FROM    THE    LIBRARY    OF 

REV.    LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON.   D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED    BY   HIM    TO 

THE   LIBRARY   OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

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937 


'o: 


HISTORICAL    COLLECTIONS 


RELATING  TO   THE 


American  Colonial  Church 


EDITED    BY 


/S 


WILLIAM   STEVENS    PERRY,    D.D. 


Volume    II.— PENNSYLVANIA 


PRINTED   FOR   THE   SUBSCRIBERS. 
MDCCCLXXI. 


Two  hundred  and  fifty  Copies  Printed. 
No. 


The  Church  Press, 

Hartford,  Conn. 


TO   THE  RIGHT   REVEREND 

WILLIAM    BACON    STEVENS,    D.D.,    LL.D., 

BISHOP    OF    PENNSYLVANIA, 

THIS  VOLUME, 

THE   RESULT   OF   HISTORICAL   INVESTIGATIONS 

FIRST    UNDERTAKEN    AT    HIS    SUGGESTION,     AND     CONTINUED    WITH 

HIS    CONSTANT    SYMPATHY    AND    ENCOURAGEMENT, 


|e  iiesprctfulltJ  Inscribe!}. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  pressure  of  many  duties,  both  of  a  public  and  a  private  nature, 
has  delayed  the  appearance  of  this  volume  long  beyond  the  date  of  its 
announcement.  It  is  a  source  of  satisfaction,  however,  that  the  richness 
of  its  contents,  detailing,  as  its  pages  will,  the  story  of  the  rise  and  growth 
of  the  Church  in  Pennsylvania  for  a  period  of  nearly  a  century,  cannot 
be  affected  by  this  lapse  of  time ;  and  that  the  simple  records  of  these 
earlier  days  of  planting  and  nourishing  the  Church  must,  with  added  years, 
become  more  full  of  interest  to  all  who  care  to  acquaint  themselves  with 
the  story  of  the  past. 

The  transcripts,  made  in  England  under  the  direction  of  the  late  Rev. 
Francis  Lister  Hawks,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  have  been  scrupulously  followed,  even 
at  the  risk  of  perpetuating  occasional  clerical  errors.  The  absence  of  the 
originals  has  rendered  correction  impossible,  and  only  the  most  glaring 
of  these  mistakes  have  been  noticed  in  the  notes.  Wherever  original  copies 
were  extant  and  accessible,  they  have  been  made  use  of,  and  the  fact  that 
so  few  of  these  important  MSS.  are  still  preserved,  save  in  the  copies 
followed  in  the  printing  of  this  volume,  gives  to  these  papers,  even  when 
evidently  faulty  in  punctuation,  or  exhibiting  verbal  inaccuracies,  a  value 
which  cannot  be  too  highly  estimated. 


IV 


Additional  documents  have  been  given  in  the  notes.  These  papers 
might  have  been  extended  indefinitely  from  the  rich  stores  of  MSS.  among 
the  archives  of  the  Church.  In  some  other  form,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that 
all  these  papers  will  yet  see  the  light,  and  the  annals  of  the  Church  in 
Pennsylvania  made  accessible  to  every  historical  student. 

The  general  arrangement  of  the  papers  of  this  volume  is  that  adopted 
by  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks.  For  the  notes  and  selection  of  additional 
documents  the  editor  is  alone  responsible. 

Trinity  Rectory,  Geneva,  New  York, 

Feast  of  St.  Matthew  the  Apostle,  1871. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


PAGES. 


A  brief  Narrative  of  the  Proceedings  of  William  Penn,  ....  1-4 

From  MSS.  of  the  Ven.  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign 

Parts  {unbound  Letters). 
Extract  from  the  Grant  of  Pennsylvania,  dated  March  4,  1680,  ...  5 

{Fulham  MSS.  {unbound). 
Col.  Quarry,  and  others,  to  Gov.  Francis  Nicholson,  Jan.  18,  1696-7,  .         .  5-7 

Ibid. 
Mr.  I.  Arrowsmith,  schoolmaster,  to  Gov.  Nicholson,  March  26,  1698,  .  .  7 

Ibid. 
Gov.  Danforth  to  Gov.  Markham,  1698,  .  .  .  .  .  8,  9 

Ibid. 
Mr.  Robert  Suder  to  the  Governor,  Nov.  20,  1698,      .....         9-12 

Ibid. 
Mr.  Thomas  Martin  to  Rev.  Thomas  Clayton,  Sept.  16,  1698,        .  .  .  12,  13 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Clayton  to  the  Clergy  of  Maryland,  Nov.  29,  1698,  .  .  .13,  14 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Clayton  to  the  Governor,  Nov.  29,  1698,  ....  14-16 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Edward  Portlock  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  July  12,  1700,  .  .  16 

Ibid. 
Rev.  George  Keith  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  April  2,  1703,  .  .  17 

Letter  Book  of  the  Ven.  Society  {Vol.  1). 
The  Lord  Cornbury  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  Aug.  23,  1703,    .  .  .       17,  18 

Ibid. 
The  Minister  and  Vestry  of  the  Church  at  Philadelphia  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don, Aug.  31,  1703,  .  .  .  .  ...  18,  19 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Henry  Nicholls  to  Mr.  Hodges,  April  30,  1704,  .  •  •  •  19 

Ibid. 


VI 


Rev.  Dr.  Evan  Evans  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  Oct.  17,  1704, 

Letter  Book  of  the  Ven.  Society  [Vol.  2). 
Rev.  Dr.  Evans  to  Rev.  Mr.  Keith,  Oct.  25,  1704,       . 

Ibid. 
The  Minister  and  Vestry  of  Chester,  alias  Uplands,  in  Pennsylvania,  to  the  Soci- 
ety, 1704,  ........ 

Ibid. 
Governor  Evans  to  Rev.  Mr.  Stubs,  August  23,  1705,  .  .  .  . 

Ibid. 
Address  from  St.  Paul's  Church  in  Chester,  Pennsylvania,  1705,     . 

Ibid. 
The  Lord  Bishop  of  London  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Society,  Sept.  27,  1707, 

Ibid.  {Vol.  3) 
Rev.  Mr.  Nichols  to  the  Secretary,  July  24,  1707,  .... 

Ibid 
The  State  of  the  Church  in  Pennsylvania,  to  ye  Ven.  Society.     By  Evan  Evans,  D.D. 
Sept.  18,  1707,  .  .  .  .  .  .  .      • 

From  the  original  MS. 
Col.  Robert  Quarry  to  the  Secretary,  Feb.  12,  1707-8,       .... 

Letter  Book  of  the  Ven.  Society  (  Vol.  3) 
Trinity  Church,  Oxford,  to  the  Society,  March  5,  1708-9,      .... 

Ibid.  {Vol.  4) 
Col.  Caleb  Heathcote  to  the  Secretary,  June  3,  1709,        .... 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Clubb  &  Vestry  of  Oxford  to  the  Secretary,  July  27,  1709, 

Ibid.  {Vol.  5) 
Rev.  Dr.  Evans  to  the  Secretary,  Aug.  27,  1709,     ..... 

Ibid. 

Ibid. 

Ibid. 

Ibid. 
Ibid. 
Ibid. 
Ibid. 
Ibid. 


PACES. 

20 


Col.  Charles  Gookin  to  the  Secretary,  Aug.  27,  1709, 

Vestry  of  Chester  to  the  Society,  Sept.  1,  1709, 

Vestry  of  Appoquiminink  to  the  Secretary,  Sept.  5,  1709, 

Col.  John  Evans  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  17,  1709, 

The  Bishop  of  London  to  the  Secretary,  Dec.  16,  1709, 

Gent"  of  Chester  to  the  Society,  July  14,  17 10, 

Rev.  Mr.  Clubb  to  the  Secretary,  July  24,  1710, 


22-24 
25-28 
28-30 
3° 
3°,  31 

32-39 

40-42 

42,  43 
44,  45 
45-47 
47"5° 
5o-52 
53.  54 
55.  56 
56>  57 
58 
58>  59 
59.  6o 


Vll 


I'AGES. 


Bishop  of  London  to  the  Secretary,  1710,  .....  60 

Letter  Book  of  the  Ven.  Society  (  Vol.  5). 
Vestry  of  Appoquiminick  to  the  Secretary,  Dec.  11,  1710,        ....       61,  62 

Ibid.  {Vol.  6). 
Address  of  the  Clergy  in  Pennsylvania  to  the  Society,  April  12,  171 1,       .  .  62,  63 

Ibid. 
Governor  &  others  of  Pennsylvania  to  the  Secretary,  1711,      .  .  .  .  64 

Ibid. 
Mr.  Jeremiah  Bass  to  the  Secretary,  1711,  .  .  .  .  .  65,66 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Dr.  Evans  to' the  Secretary,  Feb.  19,  171 1,  .  .  .  .  .       66,  67 

Ibid.  (Vol.  7). 
Rev.  George  Ross  to  Mr.  Chamberlayne,  Jan.  22,  1711-12,  .  .  .  67,  68 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Ross  to  the  Secretary,  Dec.  30,  1712,      .  .  .  .  .  69,  70 

Ibid.  (Vol.  8). 
The  Clergy  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  to  the  Society,  1 71 2,        .  .  .        70-73 

Memorial  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Evans,  1714,      .  .  .  .  .  .  73,  74 

Letter  Book  of  the  Ven.  Society  (Vol.  9). 
Rev.  John  Clubb  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  6,  1714,  .....       74-76 

Ibid. 
Rev.  John  Humphreys  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  12,  1714,       ....  76-78 

Ibid. 
An  Account  or  History  of  the  Building  of  St.   Paul's  Church  in   Chester,  June  21, 

1 714,  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        78-80 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Robert  Jenney,  LL.D.,  to  the  Society,  Jan.  4  and  5,  17 14,  .  .  81 

Ibid.  (Vol.  10). 
Rev.  Mr.  Ross  to  the  Secretary,  April  20,  17 15, 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Ross  and  Rev.  Mr.  Humphreys  to  the  Secretary,  April  20,  171 4, 

Ibid. 
Clergy  of  Pennsylvania  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  and  Affidavit  concerning  Rev.  Mr. 
Phillips,  March  17,  1 714, 

Ibid. 
Lieut. -Gov.  Gookin,  &  others,  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  March  7,  1714-15, 

From  the  original  MS. 
Rev.  Mr.  Phillips  to  the  Secretary,  March  23,  1714-15,  .... 

lulham  MSS.  (unbound). 
Rev.  Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  Oct.  21,  1715,    . 

Letter  Book  of  the  Ven.  Society  ( Vol.  10). 


82 

83 

84-87 

87-89 

90-93 

93>  94 

Vlll 

PAGES. 

Mr.  John  Newbery  to  Rev.  William  Vesey,  Nov.  30,  1715,      ....       94-97 

Letter  Book  of  the  Ven.  Society  {Vol.  10). 
Churchwardens  and  Vestry  of  Philadelphia  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  Oct.  6,  1715,  97,  98 

From  an  original  copy. 
Rev.  John  Humphreys  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  3,  17 15,  •        •     .  .  .     98-100 

Letter  Book  of  the  Ven.  Society  [Vol.  10). 
Churchwardens  and  Vestry  of  Oxford,  in  Pennsylvania,   to  the  Secretary,  May  21, 

1716,  .........  100,  101 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Ross  to  the  Secretary,  Aug.  28,  1716,       .....         101-103 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Humphreys  to  the  Secretary,  Aug.  4,  1716,  ....  103,  104 

Ibid. 
The  Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Society  to  Col.  Gookin,  May  14,  1716,  .  .  104 

Ibid. 
The  Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Society  to  the  Revs.  Messrs.  Ross,  Clubb,  and  Humph- 
reys, May  14,  1716,  .......        104,  105 

Ibid. 
Mr.  Richard  Grafton  to  Mr.  Dyer,  May  30,  1716,  .  .  .  .  105,  106 

Fulham  MSS.  {unbound). 
Address  of  Churchwardens  and  Vestry  of  Oxford  to  the  Hon.  Society,  Nov.  28,  1716,  107 

Letter  Book  of  the  Ven.  Society  {Vol.  12). 
Col.  Charles  Gookin  to  the  Secretary,  Jan.  7,  1716-17,       ....  108 

Col.  Gookin  to  the  Secretary,  March  16,  1 716-17,       .....  108,  109 

Sir  William  Keith  to  the  Ven.  Society,  Sept.  24,  1717,     ....  109,  no 

The  Clergy  of  Pennsylvania  and  Counties  of  Newcastle,   Kent,  and   Sussex,  to   the 

Hon.  William  Keith,  Governor,  171 7,  .  .  .  .  .     no,  in 

An  Account  or  History  of  the  building  of  St.  James's  Church  at  White  Clay  Creek, 

Newcastle  County,  Sept.  20,  171 7,  .  .  .  .  .         111,112 

The  Secretary  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Talbot,  Aug.  2,  171 7,  .  .  .  .  112 

The  Petition  of  the  Rev.  Andrew  Sandell  to  the  Society,  1718,      .  .  .         113,  114 

Letter  Book  of  the  Ven.  Society  {Vol.  13). 
Recommendation  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sandell  by  the  Pennsylvania  Clergy,  Feb.  18,  1718,  113,  114 

Ibid. 
Churchwardens,  &c,  of  Trinity  Church,  Oxford,  to  the  Secretary,  June  25,  1718,      .    114,  115 

Pennsylvania  Letters  to  the  Society. 


IX 


Inhabitants  of  Lewes  Town  and  Sussex  County  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  1 718, 

Pennsylvania  Letters  to  the  Society 
Rev.  Mr.  Humphreys  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  24,  1 718, 

Ibid. 
A  copy  of  Rev.  Mr.  Ross's  Letter  to  the  Vestry  of  Philadelphia,  1719, 

Ibid. 
Rev.  John  Humphreys  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  30,  171 9, 

Ibid. 
Certificate  in  behalf  of  Rev.  Dr.  Evans,  enclosed  in  his  Letter  of  June  29,  1719, 

Ibid 
Rev.  Mr.  Halyday  to  the  Ven.  Society,  May  10,  1719,        .... 

Ibid 
A  Representation  of  the  Clergy  of  Pennsylvania  to  the  Secretary,  1719, 

Letter  Book  of  the  Ven.  Society  {Vol.  14) 
Clergy  of  Pennsylvania  to  the  Ven.  Society,  March  22,  1722, 

Ibid.  {Vol.  16) 

Ibid. 

Ibid. 

Ibid. 


Rev.  William  Becket  to  the  Secretary,  April  14,  1722, 
Rev.  William  Harrison  to  the  Secretary,  May  31,  1722, 
Rev.  Messrs.  Hesselius  and  Lidenius  to  the  Secretary,  1722, 
Rev.  Robert  Weyman  to  the  Secretary,  April  4,  1723, 
Sir  William  Keith  to  the  Ven.  Society,  April  6,  1723, 
The  Clergy  of  Pennsylvania  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  24,  1723, 
Rev.  John  Talbot  to  the  Secretary,  Dec.  9,  1723, 


Ibid.  {Vol.  17) 
Ibid. 
Ibid. 
Ibid. 


117 
118 
119 
120 
121,  122 
122-124 

124,  125 

125,  126 

127,  128 

128,  129 

129,  130 
130 

i33>  134 


Members  of  the  Church  of  England  in  Kent  County  to  the  Bishop  of  London  and  the 

Ven.  Society,  Oct.  20,  1722,  ......         134,  135 

Ibid.  (Vol.  18). 
Answer  to  Queries  issued  by  the  Bishop  of  London,  1724,        ....  136,  137 

Fulham  MS.  {unbound'). 
Sir  Wm.  Keith  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  July  24,  1724,         .  .  .         137,  138 

Ibid. 
Mr.  Thomas  Glentworth  to  Rev.  Mr.  Cummings,  Feb.  14,  1725-6,      .  ■  .  139 

Ibid. 
The  Memorial  of  Peter  Evans  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  1725,  .  .  139-142 

Ibid. 


Rev.  Philip  Stubs  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  April  16,  1725, 


Ibid. 


142,  143 


PAGES. 

Sir  William  Keith  to  the  Secretary,  May  13,  1725,        .  .  .  .  .  143,  144 

Letter  Book  of  the  Ven.  Society  {Vol.  19). 
Rev.  Robert  Weyman,  July  26,  1725,  ......         144,  145 

Ibid. 
Churches  in  Pennsylvania — how  supplied  with  Ministers,  1725,  .  .  .  145,  146 

Fulham  MSS.  (unbound}. 
Sir  Wm.  Keith  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  April  8,  1726,        .  .  .         146-148 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Archibald  Cummings  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  Oct.  19,  1726,       .  .  148,  149 

Ibid. 
Gov.  Patrick  Gordon  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  July  19,  1726,  .  .         149,  150 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Wm.  Becket  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  March  15,  1727-8,  .  .  150-152 

Ibid. 
Inhabitants  of  Concord,  Chichester,  and  Colchester  to  the  Ven.  Society,  April  5,  1727,     152,  153 

Letter  Book  of  the  Ven.  Society  (Vol.  20). 
Members  of    Apoquiniminck   Church   to  Rev.   Mr.  Ross  about  Rev.  Mr.  Campbell, 

May8,  1727,  ........         153,  154 

Ibid. 
Clergy  of  Pennsylvania  to  the  Society,  Sept.  21,  1727,  ....  155 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Alexander  Campbell  to  the  Secretary,  Feb.  26,  1727-8  .  .  .         156-158 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Henderson  and  Rev.  Mr.  Machonchie  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Campbell,  Nov.  1, 

1727,  ..........   158-160 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  March  12,  1728,       ....  161,  162 

Ibid.  (Vol.  21). 
The  Memorial  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Weyman  to  the  HonWo  Society,  Aug.  3,  1728,  162-165 

Fulham  MSS.  (unbound). 
Rev.  Walter  Hacket  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  2,  1729,     .  .  .  .  .  166 

Letter  Book  of  the  Ven.  Society  (Vol.  22). 
Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  May  14,  1730,  ....  167 

Ibid.  (Vol.  23). 
Mr.  Rowland  Jones  to  the  Secretary,  June  17,  1730,     .....    168-172 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  March  22,  1730,        .  .  .  .         172,  173 

Ibid. 
Representation  of  the  Missionaries  in  Pennsylvania,  April  16,  1730,    .  .  .  173,  174 

Ibid. 
Supplement  to  an  Act  passed  in  Pennsylvania  to  Prevent  Clandestine  Marriages,  175,  176 

Ibid. 


XI 


PACKS. 


Rev.  Archibald  Cummings  to  the  Secretary,  July  20,  1732,  .  .  .  177 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Alexander  Howie  to  the  Secretary,  July  29,  1731,  ....  178,  179 

Ibid.  {Vol.  24). 
Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  7,  1732,  .  .  .  .179,  180 

Ibid.   , 
Rev.  Mr.  Cummings  to  the  Secretary,  March  8,  1732,  ....  180,  181 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  7,  1733,  ....         181,  182 

Ibid. 
Address  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Pequea  County  to  the  Society,  Oct.  2,  1732,     .  .  182,  183 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.,  letter  Book,  Vol.  2,  "  Bear croft." 
Rev.  Dr.  Jenney  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  18,  1752,  ....         183,  184 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Reading  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  10,  1752,        .....  184 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Thomas  Thompson  to  the  Secretary,  April  23,  1752,  .  .  .         185,  186 

Ibid. 
Rev.  George  Craig  to  the  Secretary,  June  16,  1752,       .  .  .  .  .  187 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Reading  to  the  Secretary,  March  26,  1752,  .  .  .  .         187,  188 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Hughes  to  the  Secretary,  March  2,  1733-4,  ....  188,  189 

Letter  Book  of  the  Ven.  Society  {Vol.  25). 
Rev.  Mr.  Howie  to  the  Secretary,  April  27,  1734,  ....         189,  190 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  30,  1734, 

Rev.  Mr.  Cummings  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  7,  1734, 

Rev.  Mr.  Hughes  to  the  Secretary,  Dec.  3,  1734, 

The  Inhabitants  of  Canestogoe  to  the  Ven.  Society,  1734,  . 

Rev.  Wm.  Lindsay  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  14,  1735, 

Rev.  Mr.  Gibbs  to  Mr.  H.  Newman,  Aug.  30,  1735, 

Rev.  John  Pugh  to  the  Secretary,  Feb.  10,  1736, 

Rev.  Mr.  Lindsay  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  March  1,  1736, 


190 

Ibid. 

191 

Ibid. 

191, 

192 

Ibid. 

193 

Bid. 

r93> 

J94 

id.  {Vol.  26). 

195 

Ibid. 

!95. 

196 

Ibid. 

197 

Ibid. 

xu 


PAGBS. 


Mr.  Jeremiah  Langhorne  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  May  28,  1736,  .  .         198,  199 

Fulham  MSS.  (unbound). 
Rev.  Mr.  Cummings  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  March  30,  1738,  .  .  199 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Howie  to  the  Society,  July  2,  1739,  .....         200,  201 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.,  Letter  Book,  Vol.  2,  "  Bearero/t." 
Rev.  Mr.  Pugh  to  the  Society,  Nov.  28,  1738,  .....  201 

Rev.  Mr.  Pugh  to  the  Secretary,  1738,         .... 

Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  Dec.  9,  1 738,     . 

Rev.  Mr.  Cummings  to  the  Secretary,  Aug.  29,  1740, 

Rev.  George  Ross  to  the  Secretary,  Aug.  1,  1740, 

Rev.  George  Ross  to  the  Secretary,  Sept.  1,  1740, 

Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  Aug.  23,  1740, 

Rev.  Mr.  Howie  to  the  Secretary,  July  17,  1740, 

Rev.  Mr.  Currie  to  the  Secretary,  July  7,  1740, 

Rev.  Mr.  Cummings  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  14,  1739, 

Rev.  Mr.  Cummings  to  the  Secretary,  July  31,  1740,  . 

Rev.  George  Whitfield  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  27,  1739,    • 

Rev.  George  Whitfield  to  the  Secretary,  April  7,  1740, 

Rev.  Mr.  Pugh  to  the  Secretary,  April  16,  1741, 

Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  July  25,  1741,     . 

Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  13,  1741, 

Petition  of  St.  Paul's,  Chester,  to  the  Ven.  Society,  1741, 

Rev.  Mr.  Howie  to  the  Secretary,  Sept.  29,  1741,  . 


Ibid. 

202 

Ibid. 

202 

Ibid. 

203 

Ibid. 

■  204, 

205 

Ibid. 

205, 

206 

Ibid. 

206 

Ibid. 

207, 

208 

Ibid. 

.  208, 

209 

Ibid. 

210 

Ibid. 

.  210, 

21  I 

Ibid. 

212 

Ibid. 

■    213, 

214 

Ibid. 

214, 

"5 

Ibid.  {Vol.  3). 

.  216, 

217 

Ibid. 

218, 

219 

Ibid. 

.219 

-221 

Ibid. 

821- 

-223 

Ibid. 

Xtll 


Address  of   the  Churchwardens  and  Vestry  of  Christ   Church,  Philadelphia,  to  Ed- 
mund, Lord  Bishop  of  London,  April  23,  1741,   ....         223-224 

From  the  original  MS. 
Churchwardens,  etc.,  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  1741,  ....  225-227 

Fulham  MSS.  (unbound). 
Rev.  Richard  Peters  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  May  n,  1741,        .  .  .         228,  229 

Ibid. 
Rev.  ./Eneas  Ross  to  the  Secretary,  March  15,  1 741-2,  ....  230 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.,  Letter  Book,  Vol.  1,  "  Beareroft." 
Rev.  George  Ross  to  the  Secretary,  March  4,  1 741-2,         ....         230,  231 

Rev.  ^Eneas  Ross  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  22,  1742,       .....  231 

Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  June  14,  1742,  ....         232,  233 

Rev.  Mr.  Lindsay  to  the  Secretary,  March  25,  1742,    .....  233,  234 

Rev.  Dr.  Jenney  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  June  24,  1743,  .  .  .         234,  235 

Fulham  MSS.  (unbound). 
Rev.  Dr.  Jenney  to  the  Secretary,  Jan.  26,  1744,  .....  235,  236 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.,  Letter  Book,  Vol.  6,  "Beareroft." 
Rev.  Dr.  Jenney  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  14,  1745,  .....         236,  237 

Ibid. 
Rev.  ^Eneas  Ross  to  the  Secretary,  May  19,  1744, 

Rev.  ^Eneas  Ross  to  the  Secretary,  March  28,  1745, 

Rev.  ^Eneas  Ross  to  the  Secretary,  April  17,  1745, 

Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  Sept.  21,  1744, 

Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  April  23,  1746, 

Rev.  Philip  Reading  to  the  Secretary,  March  26,  1747,       ....         244,  245 

Ibid.  {Vol.  8). 
Rev.  Dr.  Jenney  to  the  Vestry  of  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,  1747,  .  .    246-250 

From  the  original  MS. 
The  Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Society  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jenney,  of  Philadelphia,  May 

28,  1747,   .........         250,  251 

MSS.  of  the   S.  P.  G.,  Letter  Book,  Vol  8,  "Beareroft." 
Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  June  26,  1748,   .  .  .  .  251,  252 

Ibid.  (Vol.  9). 


237> 

238 

Ibid. 

238- 

-240 

Ibid 

240- 

-242 

Ibid. 

242, 

243 

Ibid. 

243. 

244 

Ibid. 

XIV 

I'AGtS. 

Rev.  Richard  Locke  to  the  Society,  Sept.  29,  1748,  .  .  .  .252,  253 

Ibid. 
Commissary  Jenney  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  19,  1748.  ....  253,  254 

Ibid. 
Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Huntington  and  Tyrone  to  the  Hon.  Society,  Oct.  3, 

1748,         .........         254,  255 

Ibid. 
Governor  George  Thomas  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  April  23,  1748,  .  .  .  256,  257 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  June  25,  1749,  ....         257,  258 

Ibid. 
Congregation  of  Bangor  Church  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  23,  1749,         .  .  .  258 

Ibid. 
Rev.  /Eneas  Ross  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  5,  1749,     .....         258,259 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  Dec.  4,  1749,     .....  259 

Ibid.  {Vol.  10). 
Rev.  Dr.  Jenney  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  26,  1749,    .....  260 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Usher  to  the  Secretary,  Dec.  26,  1749,  .....  260 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Reading  to  the  Secretary,  June  25,  1750,  ....  261 

Ibid.  {Vol.  11). 
Rev.  William  Smith  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  Feb.  7,  1758,  .  .  .  262,  263 

Lambeth  MSS.  {No.  11 23). 
A  brief  Narrative  of  the  Case  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Smith,  1758,  .  .  .  264-268 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Sturgeon  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  Nov.  29,  1758,  .  .  268,  269 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Robert  McKean  to  Dr.  Bearcroft,  about  Mr.  Moore  and  Rev.  Mr.  Smith.  Feb.  5, 

1758,  .........  270-273 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Dr.  Jenney  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  Nov.  27,  1758,      .  .  .  273,  274 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Thomas  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  8.  1756,  ....  275-281 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.  {unbound  letters). 
Rev.  Mr.  Currie  to  the  Secretary,  March  31,  1760,       .....  281,  282 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  Dec.  21,  1759,  ....         282,  283 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  Brigadier-General  Forbes,  July  8,  1 759,    ....  283,  284 

Ibid. 


XV 


General  Forbes  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barton,  July  9,  1759,  ....  284 

AISS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.  {unbound  Letters). 
Petition  of  Members  of  the  Episcopal  Churches  in  the  Counties  of  York  and  Cumber- 
land to  the  Ven.  Society,  Oct.  2,  1759,    .....  285,  286 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Hugh  Neill  to  the  Secretary,  May  12,  1760,  ......   286-288 

Ibid. 
Representation  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  County  of  Berks  to  the  Venerable  Society, 

1760,         .........  288,  289 

Ibid. 
Rev.  George  Craig  to  the  Secretary,  July  27,  1760,       .....   290-293 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  Dec.  6,  1760,     .  .  .  .  .  293-295 

Ibid. 
Minutes  of  a  Convention  or  Voluntary  Meeting  of  the  Episcopal  Clergy  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, April  30,  1760,  .......   295-305 

From  the  Original  MSS. 
Minutes  of  the  Committee,  June  27,  1760,  .  .  .  .  .  305-311 

Ibid. 
Some  account  of  the  Missions  in  Pennsylvania,  etc.,  delivered  in  a  Convention  of  the 

Clergy  of  the  Province,  at  Philadelphia,  May  2,  1760,  .  .  .   311-316 

Ibid. 
Address  of  the  Missionaries  and  other  Clergy  of  the  Church  of  England,  residing  in 
and  near  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  to  the  Lord  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, May,  1760,  .......  3i7~3I9 

Lambeth  MSS.  {No.  1123). 
Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  Smith  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  July  1,  1760,  .  .   319-324 

Ibid. 
Several  Churches  in  Pennsylvania  in  favor  of  Rev.  Mr.  Unander,  1760,     .  .         324,  325 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.  {unbound  Letters). 
Rev.  Dr.  William  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  Aug.  26,  1760,         ....  325,  326 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Neill  to  the  Secretary,  June  8,  1761,        .....         326,  327 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  July  6,  1761,  .....  328,  329 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Craig  to  the  Secretary,  July  6,  1761,  .  .  .  .  330 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  July  20,  1760,  .....  331,  332 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Sturgeon  to  the  Secretary,  Aug.  21,  1761,  ....  332 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Neill  to  the  Secretary,  Jan.  10,  1762,  .....  t>2>Z 

Ibid. 


XVI 

PAGBS. 

Rev.  Dr.  Smith  and  others  to  the  Secretary,  Jan.  12,  1762,  .  .  .         333,  334 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.  (unbound  Letters). 
Rev.  Wm.  Thompson  to  the  Secretary,  March  10,  1762,  ....  335 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  March  11,  1762,  ....         335,  336 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Neill  to  the  Secretary,  June  5,  1762,  .  .  .  .  336,  337 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Neill  to  the  Secretary,  June  21,  1762,      .....         $$8,  339 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  June  22,  1762,         .....  339 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Craig  to  the  Secretary,  June  25,  1762,     .....  340 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Thompson  to  the  Secretary,  July  6,  1762,      .....  340,  341 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Sturgeon  to  the  Secretary,  1762,  .....  341 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Reading  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  5,  1762,         .....  341,  342 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  8,  1762,    .....  343 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Thompson  to  the  Secretary,  Dec.  25,  1762,  ....  344 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Alexander  Murray  to  the  Secretary,  April  9,  1763,     ....  344-346 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Neill  to  the  Secretary,  May  2,  1763,  .....  346,  347 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  June  28,  1763,  .....  347~349 

Ibid. 
Rev.  ^Eneas  Ross  to  the  Secretary,  July  6,  1763,  .....  349,  350 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Craig  to  the  Secretary,  July  n,  1763,      .....         350,  351 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Thompson  to  the  Secretary,  July  iS,  1763,    .  .  .  .  .  351,  352 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Currie  to  the  Secretary,  Sept.  29,  1763,  .  .  .  .  352 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Thompson  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  2,  1763,     .....  353 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Neil)  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  17,  1763,      .....         354,  355 

Ibid. 


XV11 

PACKS. 

Rev.  Mr.  Sturgeon  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  20,  1763,     .....  355,  356 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.  {unbound  Letters). 
Rev.  Mr.  Murray  to  the  Secretary,  Jan.  25,  1764,  ....  356-359 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Thompson  to  the  Secretary,  Feb.  16,  1764,  ....  359 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Neill  to  the  Secretary,  June  25,  1764,       .....  360,  361 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Craig  to  the  Secretary,  Sept.  3,  1764,  .....  361 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Thompson  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  2,  1764,  ....  362 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Reaciing  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  18,  1764,       .....  362,  363 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Neill  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  18,  1764,      .....  363-366 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  16,  1764,         .....   366-372 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Messrs.  Sturgeon  and  Hughes  to  the  Secretary,  March  23,  1765,         .  372—375 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Thompson  to  the  Secretary,  March  25,  1765,  ....  376 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Sturgeon  to  the  Secretary,  March  25,  1765,  ....         376,  377 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Currie  to  the  Secretary,  March  30,  1765,       .  .  .  .  377 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  and  others  to  the  Secretary,  January  11,  1765,       .  .  .  378-380 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  May  8,  1765,  .  .  .  .381 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Neill  to  the  Secretary,  June  25,  1765,      .....  382 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Reading  to  the  Secretary,  June  25,  1765,       .....  382,  383 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Murray  to  the  Secretary,  June  25,  1765,  ....         ^8^,  384 

Ibid. 
Churchwardens  and  Vestry  of  the  Episcopal  Congregation  at  Reading,  Berks  County, 

to  the  Ven.  Society,  June  12,  1765,    ......   384-386 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Reading  to  the  Secretary,  Sept.  14,  1765,  ....         386,  387 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  Aug.  8,  1765,  .....  387,  388 

Ibid. 


XV111 

PAGHS. 

Petition  of  the  Churchwardens  and  Vestry  of  the  Episcopal  Congregation  at  Molatton 

to  the  Ven.  Society,  June  17,  1765,  .....         388,  389 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.  {unbound  Letters). 
The  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  to  the  Rev.  Jacob  Duche,  Sept.  16,  1763,        .  .   389-391 

Lambeth  MSS.  (No.  1123). 
Rev.  Mr.  Peters  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  Oct.  17,  1763,  .  .  391-395 

Ibid. 
Representatives  of  the  German  Church  to  the  Archbishops  of  Canterbury  and  York, 

and  the  Bishop  of  London,  Oct.  21,  1764,     .....   396-398 

Fulham  MSS.  (unbound'). 
Rev.  Mr.  Neill  to  the  Secretary,  Dec.  r4,  1765,     .....  399 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.  (unbound  Letters). 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  Jan.  23,  1766,  .....   400-402 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  March  3,  1766,   .....         403,  404 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Neill  to  the  Secretary,  May  19,  1766,  ....  .404,405 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Craig  to  the  Secretary,  June  25,  1766,     .....         405,  406 

/bid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  10,  1766,         .....   406-409 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Peters  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  Nov.  14,  1766,  .  .  .         409,  410 

Fulham  MSS.  (unbound). 
Rev.  Dr.  Peters  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  Dec.  18,  1766,        ....  411-413 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  Nov.  13,  1766,  .  .  .         413-415 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  May  1,  1767,  .....  415,  416 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.  (unbound  Letters). 
Rev.  Mr.  Reading  to  the  Secretary,  June  1,  1767,  ....         416,417 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Neill  to  the  Secretary,  June  9,  1767,  .....   417-420 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  Sept.  1,  1767,      .....         421,  422 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Thompson  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  20,  1767,    .  .  422 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Craig  to  the  Society,  Nov.  7,  1767,  .....  422-424 

Ibid. 
Mr.  Christian  Frederick  Post  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  17,  1767,  .  .  .  424 

Ibid. 


XIX 


PAGES. 

Rev.  Mr.  Peters  and  others  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  April  22,  1768,        .  .  425-427 

Fulham  MSS.  {unbound). 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  May  6,  1768,  .....  427 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.  (unbound  Letters). 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  May  6,  1768,    ....  427-429 

Fulham  MSS.  (unbound). 
Rev.  Mr.  Thompson  to  the  Secretary,  June  25,  1768,  ....  429,  430 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.  (unbound  Letters). 
Rev.  John  Andrews  to  the  Secretary,  Aug.  4,  1768,  ....         430,  431 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  Aug.  20,  1768,  .....  431 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Peters  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  Aug.  30,  1768,  .  .  .         432,  433 

Fulham  MSS.  (unbound). 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  18,  1768,  .....  433,  434 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.  {unbound  Letters). 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  22,  1768,     .....  434-436 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  15,  1768,        .....  436,  437 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  Feb.  22,  1769,     .....         437.  438 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Murray  to  the  Secretary,  March  25,  1769,      .....   438-441 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Reading  to  the  Secretary,  March  31,  1769,  ....  441 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Craig  to  the  Secretary,  April  17,  1769,  .....  442 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  August  10,  1769,  ....         442,  443 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Peters  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  Dec.  6,  1769,  ....  443-445 

From  a  duplicate  of  the  original  'IS. 
Rev.  Mr.  Andrews  to  the  Secretary,  Jan.  10,  1770,  .  .  M.  446 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.  (unbound  Letters) . 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  April  24,  1770,  .  .  .  .  .  446,  447 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  15,  1770,     .....         447,  448 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  Dec.  17,  1770,         .....   448-451 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  Jan.  14,  1771,  .  .  .  •         451,  452 

Ibid. 


XX 


PACES. 


Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  May  3,  1771,  .....  452,  453 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.  {unbound  Letters). 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  June  20,  1 771,  .  .  .  454 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Andrews  to  the  Secretary,  July  1,1771,         .  .  .  .  455 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  July  6,  1 771,       .....         455,  456 

Ibid. 
Mr.  John  Ross  to  the  Secretary,  July  6,  1771,  .....  456,  457 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Reading  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  2,  1771,  ....         457,  458 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Murray  to  the  Secretary,  March  26,  1772,     .....  458,  459 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Reading  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  3,  1772,  ....         459,  460 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Peters  and  others,  to  the  Secretary,  Oct.  14,  1772,    ....  460,  461 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  Oct.  13,  1773,  .  .         461,  462 

Fulham  MSS.  I  unbound). 
Rev.  Messrs.  Peters  and  Smith  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  Oct.  29,  1773,  .  .  462,  463 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Reading  to  the  Secretary,  Dec.  2,  1773,  ....  463-465 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.   G.  [unbound  Letters). 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  May  2,  1774,  .  .  466 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Messrs.  Peters,  Smith,  and  Duche,  to  the  Secretary,  May  17,  1774,   .  .         466,  467 

/bid 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  July  1,  1774,  .  .  .  467 

Ibid. 
Rev.  Mr.  Reading  to  the  Secretary,  March  15,  1775,  .  .  .         468,  469 

Ibid. 
Clergy  of  Philadelphia  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  June  30,  1775,  •  •   47°-472 

From  a  duplicate  of  the  original  MS. 
Rev.  Mr.  Peters  to  the  Secretary,  July  4,  1775,      .  .  .  .  .  473 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.  {unbound  Letters). 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  July  8,  1775,  ....   473-475 

Fulham  MSS.  {unbound). 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  July  10,  1775,      .  .  .  .  .         475-478 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.  {unbound Letters). 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  Aug.  28,  1775,  .....  479 

Ibid. 


XXI 


The  Clergy  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  Oct.  6,  1775, 

Fulham  MSS.  {unbound) 
Rev.  Mr.  Reading  to  the  Secretary,  March  18,  1776,    .... 

MSS.  of  the  S.  P.  G.  {unbound  Letters) 
Rev.  Mr.  Reading  to  the  Secretary,  Aug.  25,  1776, 

Ibid. 
Ibid. 
Ibid. 
Ibid. 
Ibid. 


Mr.  Samuel  Johnston  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  25,  1776, 

Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  Nov.  25,  1776, 

Case  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Missionaries  of  Pennsylvania,  May  20,  1778, 

Rev.  Mr.  Reading  to  the  Secretary,  Sept    30,  1778, 

Notes  and  additional  Documents,  . 

Index,  ....... 


PAGES. 

480,  48I 

481,  482 
483-487 
487-489 

489-49I 

491-493 

494,  495 
497-585 
587-607 


PAPERS    RELATING 


TO    THE 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH 

IN  PENNSYLVANIA. 


A  BRIEF  NARRATIVE  of  the  Proceedings  of  WIL- 
LIAM PENN. 


Att  the  first  arrivall  of  our  proprietor  and  Governour  we  all  waited  upon 
him  by  way  of  compliment.  He  was  pleased  to  express  his  thanks  and  well 
liking  of  it,  telling  us  with  all  that  it  should  be  his  chiefest  care  &  endeavour 
to  redress  all  grievances,  to  reconcile  all  contending  parties,  to  secure  every 
man's  estate,  to  administer  Justice  impartially,  without  favour  or  affection  in  re- 
lation to  opinions,  and  to  make  in  the  end  everything  as  even  as  his  two  eyes, 
together  with  excellent  promises  and  many  words. 

Pursuant  to  an  order  from  the  Courte  of  England,  He  degraded  the  late 
nominall  Lieutenant  Governr  Markham,  David  Loyde,  Clerk  and  Attorney 
Generall,  and  one  Anthony  Morris,  Chief  Justice,  of  their  offices,  for  male- 
administration.  These  Invaders  of  our  Estates,  liberties  and  properties  being 
removed  from  their  high  places,  we  thought  ourselves  in  a  fair  way  of  enjoy- 
ing our  own  with  freedom,  peace  and  safety. 

When  time  came  to  elect  for  the  Assembly  and  Council,  The  truth  and 
the  light  of  our  proprietor  began  to  be  visible  by  making  his  personal  appear- 


ance  at  the  place  of  Election,  by  exhorting  the  people  above  all  things  to  be 
sure  of  electing  none  but  such  as  were  friends  to  the  Government  loclg'd  in 
him  ;  by  ascerting  y'  no  person  was  qualified  either  to  elect  or  to  be  elected  yl 
would  swear,  wch  is  an  ambiguous  word,  and  by  diminishing  the  number  of  the 
Churchmen,  telling  the  mobb  that  they  could  not  be  above  a  dozen  or  two  at 
the  most  (tho'  at  the  same  time  there  were  near  three  hundred  votes  for  one 
of  our  churchwardens),  by  these  and  the  like  insinuations  He  procured  crea- 
tures of  his  own  stamp  and  kidney  to  be  elected. 

Att  the  sitting  of  the  Assembly  our  Govern1"  and  proprietor  moved  vehe- 
mently to  have  a  very  large  sum  of  money  (by  way  of  gift)  for  him,  solemnly 
urging  to  the  Members  the  Juctice  of  the  thing,  since  it  had  cost  him  Twenty 
thousand  pounds  in  England  to  defend  the  Government  (for  their  sakes),  agl 
the  scurrilous  Letters  of  the  male-contents  in  the  province.  At  length,  after  a 
long  debate  and  much  time  spent  (by  his  cunning  insinuation),  he  prevailed  so 
far  upon  the  assembly  as  to  have  the  Charter  wch  he  had  formerly  granted  sur- 
rendered unto  him,  and  thereby  became  absolute  wthout  any  limitation  or  re- 
straint, and  upon  many  prayers,  preaching  &  expostulations  (according  to  his 
way),  an  impost  was  layd  upon  wine,  Beer,  &c,  for  two  years,  amounting  to 
something  better  than  ^iooo  ^  ann.,  solely  for  his  own  private  use. 

When  the  assembly  broke  up,  He  declared  it  was  his  mind,  will  and  pleas- 
ure to  let  some  of  the  Churchmen  have  a  share  wth  him  in  the  Government, 
and  accordingly  with  many  other  entreaties  and  smooth  endearments,  he  se- 
duced three  of  our  vestry  (with  much  reluctancy),  to  accept  of  his  offer,  and 
having  given  his  Dedimtis  potestatem  unto  the  Secretary  of  the  province  to 
swear  ym  according  to  Law,  they  were  pack'd  in  his  commission  amongst  6 
strong  Foxian  Quakers,  one  Swede,  and  a  sweet  Singer  of  Israeli,  to  serve  as 
Justices  for  the  city  and  county  of  Philadelphia. 

But  the  event  plainly  demonstrated  the  design  and  intrigue  of  making 
these  three  men  Justices,  for  at  the  quarter  sessions,  ye  courte  being  opened, 
the  first  person  that  was  required  to  give  his  evidence  demanded  an  oath  to 
be  administered  unto  him,  and  not  an  attest,  that  he  might  have  the  greater 
tye  and  obligation  to  speak  truth,  Especially  since  the  attest  had  been  for  some 
time  so  horribly  abused  in  that  province.  The  Churchmen  reply'd  to  this 
effect:  That  his  demand  was  just  and  reasonable,  and  that  they  did  suppose 
themselves  to  be  sworn  and  authoriz'd  to  sitt  there,  to  the  end  that  an  oath 
might  be  administered  unto  those  who  were  no  Quakers,  and  were  willing  to 


take  one.  But  the  6  Quakers  immediately  putt  a  stop  to  the  proceedings  de- 
claring that  they  neither  would  nor  could  in  conscience  sitt  in  that  courte 
where  was  swearing,  and  therefore  one  party  must  withdraw.  The  necessity 
of  oaths  was  again  urged  to  them  since  now  near  two  parts  in  three  through- 
out the  province  were  no  Quakers,  yet  (by  many  sad  instances)  it  was  plain 
and  obvious  that  the  generality  had  little  or  no  regard  for  what  they  spake 
when  they  attested. 

Moreover  that  the  equity  of  the  cause  required  the  same  liberty  for  men 
of  other  persuasions  besides  Quakers,  to  give  their  evidence  according  to  their 
own  way  and  profession,  but  nothing  would  do,  nor  no  arguments  (tho'  never 
so  rational)  prevail ;  they  were  resolved  that  no  oath  should  be  administered 
in  the  province. 

The  Churchmen  willing  to  condescend  to  any  thing  for  peace  (with  regard 
to  their  Oathes),  proposed  the  test  prescribed  by  act  of  parliament  in  England 
for  Quakers,  to  be  tendered  to  them,  but  that  was  also  rejected,  because  the 
name  of  God  was  inserted  and  therefore  look'd  upon  as  abominable  as  a 
book-oath,  besides  their  argument  extended  so  far  as  the  rejection  of  all  acts 
of  Parliament  made  in  England  wherein  the  plantations  in  America  were  not 
particularly  specified,  insisting  upon  their  own  power  to  make  Laws  sufficient 
for  Government  here,  and  accordingly  they  had  a  Law  in  the  province,  impow- 
ering  them  to  give  evidence,  by  promising  to  speak  the  truth  without  the  name 
of  God. 

Our  Governour  outwardly  endeavoured  to  promote  an  union  and  a  recon- 
ciling of  this  unhappy  difference,  remonstrating  that  from  his  cradle  no  mis- 
fortune grieved  him  so  much  as  this  quarrell  among  his  Ministers,  and  that 
for  his  part  he  had  taken  the  attest  prescribed  by  act  of  parliament  in  Eng- 
land, and  should  be  ready  upon  occasion  to  take  it  again,  and  furthermore 
urg'd  to  his  own  people  that  they  might  sitt  upon  the  Bench  whilst  an  Oath 
was  given,  and  not  to  be  concerned  with  it,  but  the  Quakers  being  obstinate, 
and  deaf  to  his  charms,  the  scene  was  presently  changed  by  making  his  per- 
sonall  appearance  in  the  Courte,  laying  the  whole  blame  upon  the  Churchmen, 
charging  them  with  raising  a  flame  in  the  province  in  so  much  that  he  must 
be  constrained  to  ride  up  &  down  the  country,  and  shew  his  Letters  patent  to 
satisfye  the  people  of  his  authority,  and  furthermore  charg'd  them  with  breach 
of  trust  for  not  leaving  the  Courte  privately,  that  his  own  people  might  manage 
affairs  after  their  own  way.     After  a  long  harangue  of  this  nature,  He  at 


length  commands  one  Edward  Shippen  (Chief  Justice,  and  principal  stickler), 
to  pull  the  Commission  out  of  his  pocket,  wch  he  had  before  given  him,  and 
then  with  a  high  and  mighty  gesture  He  suddenly  declared  that  he  was  a  pal- 
atinate and  therefore  would  exert  his  authority,  that  his  Commission  should 
go  no  more  a  begging,  But  that  they  should  know  that  his  power  was  far 
greater  than  any  King's  Governrs  in  America,  adding  afterwards  that  the  King 
had  given  this  province  to  him  and  his  people  that  they  might  be  free  from 
Oaths,  and  if  his  Ma'ty  should  impose  oathes  upon  him  and  his  people  he 
might  charge  him  with  breach  of  Faith. 

In  this  new  Commission  the  6  Quakers,  the  Swede,  and  the  Sweet  Singer 
of  Israeli,  were  continued,  but  the  3  Churchmen  cast  out.  That  this  was  a 
premeditated  design  is  plain  from  the  commission  given  beforehand  to  the 
principall  opposer  of  oathes  and  the  parliamentary  test ;  besides  it's  well 
known  that  oaths  have  been  all  along  administered  in  the  same  court  and  be- 
fore the  same  men  by  other  Justices  qualified,  ever  since  it  has  been  a  Gov- 
ernment, and  as  for  the  test  prescrib'd  by  act  of  parliament,  it  was  always 
made  use  of  til  of  late  by  the  Quakers  themselves. 

The  truth  and  substance  of  the  matter  is  this,  these  3  men  (being  men  of 
sustance  and  reputation  in  the  province),  were  designed  if  they  would  have 
comply'd  with  their  frantick  humour  to  be  made  tools  of,  and  under  the  sanc- 
tion of  their  arms  to  have  acted  as  many  villanies  as  they  have  formerly  done, 
but  if  not,  to  be  spewed  out  as  persons  not  fit  to  carry  on  their  intrigues  and 
interest. 

The  Holy  principles  of  our  religion  teach  us  not  to  resent  such  affronts, 
but  it  grieves  us  at  this  time  that  all  Church  of  England  Men  should  be  stig- 
matized with  the  grim  and  horrid  titles  of  treacherous  and  perfidious  fellows, 
dissenters  &  Schismaticks  from  the  Establish't  Religion,  wch  is  Quakerism,  In- 
truders and  Invaders  in  the  Province,  and  above  all  that  our  proprietor  and 
Governour  is  resolved,  and  will  be,  atit  CcBsar  aut  nulhis. 


[i68o. 


Extracted  from  the  Grant  of  Pennsylvania,  dated  the  4.'*  of 

March,   1680. 


And  our  further  pleasure  is,  and  we  do  hereby  for  us,  our  heirs  and 
Successors,  charge  and  require  that  if  any  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  said 
Province  {to  the  number  of  twenty),  shall  at  any  time  hereafter  be  desirous, 
and  shall  by  any  writing,  or  by  any  person  deputed  for  them,  signify  such  their 
desire  to  the  Bishop  of  London  for  the  time  being,  that  ■any  preacher  or  preach- 
ers to  be  approved  of  by  the  said  Bishop  may  be  sent  unto  them  for  their  in- 
struction, that  then  such  Preacher  or  Preachers  shall  and  may  be,  and  reside 
within  the  said  Province  without  any  denial  or  molestation  whatsoever,  and 
if  perchance  hereafter  it  shall  happen  any  doubts  or  questions  should  arise 
concerning  the  true  sense  and  meaning  of  any  word,  clause  or  sentence, 
contained  in  this  our  present  Charter,  we  will  ordain  and  command  that  at  all 
times  and  in  all  things,  such  interpretation  be  made  thereof  and  allowed  in 
any  of  our  Courts  whatsoever,  as  shall  be  adjudged  most  advantageous  and  fa- 
vorable unto  the  said  William  Penn,  his  heirs  and  assigns. 


Col.  QUARRY  &>  others  to  GOVERNOR  NICHOLSON. 


Philadelphia,  January  1 8,  1 6g67. 
Sir, 

Your  Excellency's  zeal  and  restless  endeavours,  in  the  promoting  all  things 
that  may  have  any  tendency  to  the  Interest  and  good  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, is  so  remarkable  and  famous  in  the  general  that  'tis  impossible  to  know 
your  Excellency,  and  be  a  stranger  to  it,  but  in  a  more  particular  manner,  we 
the  Members  of  the  Church  in  this  place  have  greater  cause  to  acknowledge 
your  Excellency's  extraordinary  bounty  and  liberality  in  assisting  us  to  build 
our  Church,  which  being  now  finished,  your  kindness  and  favor  rested  not 
here,  but  your  Excellency  was  pleased  without  our  knowledge  (after  a  most 


1 697-]  6 

gracious  manner),  to  apply  yourself  to  his  Majesty  and  Council  not  only  for 
the  settlement  for  a  maintenance  and  support  of  a  good  Ministry  amongst  us, 
but  also  for  a  school,  for  the  completing  of  which  good  and  charitable  under- 
taking, we  are  all  of  us  humble  Petitioners  to  your  Excellency  in  the  behalf  of 
our  poor  infant  Church  which  we  hope  will  prosper  and  grow  numerous  under 
your  Excellency's  favour  and  protection,  and  make  a  grateful  return  of  their 
prayers  for  your  complete  happiness  both  in  this  life  and  the  next. — The  cir- 
cumstances of  our  present  state  forces  us  further  to  implore  your  assistance  in 
recommending  our  condition  to  his  grace  the  Lord  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
who  hath  the  character  from  all  mankind  to  be  a  person  of  great  and  eminent 
piety,  charity,  and  zeal  for  the  Church,  which  makes  us  hope  and  conclude  that 
his  Grace's  kindness  and  assistance  will  not  be  wanting  to  us,  especially  when 
his  grace  is  rightly  informed  of  how  great  service  the  settling  a  good  and  able 
Ministry  in  this  place  may  be  for  the  good  of  the  Church.  Were  it  not  for 
fear  of  tiring  your  Excellency  we  could  give  many  reasons,  but  however  will 
presume  to  instance  a  few,  as  first,  the  great  number  of  people  in  this  Province 
which  do  conform  to  the  manner  and  customs  of  the  Quakers  and  go  con- 
stantly to  their  Meeting  purely  because  there  hath  been  no  other  way  of 
worship  in  this  place  since  the  settlement  of  this  Country.  Secondly  the  late 
great  distractions  and  divisions  amongst  the  Quakers,  and  the  many  notorious 
wicked  and  damnable  principles  and  doctrines  discovered  to  be  amongst  the 
greatest  part  of  them  ;  this  makes  the  rest  very  uneasy  and  inquisitive  after 
truth  and  the  sound  doctrines  of  the  Church  of  England,  which  makes  us 
possitively  assert  that  a  pious,  good  and  orthodox  Ministry  would  bring  most 
of  them  over  to  the  Church. 

We  will  not  enlarge  on  this  subject  since  our  good  friends  Col.  Robert 
Quarry  designs  for  England  by  this  Fleet,  who  having  your  Excellency's  recom- 
mendation to  his  Grace,  will  have  the  opportunity  to  discourse  him  on  this  and 
other  matters  more  particularly  and  fully.  We  hope  your  Excellency  will  also 
mind  his  Grace,  of  Plate  for  the  communion  Table  and  a  Library. 
We  beg  leave  to  subscribe  ourselves 

Your  Excellency's 
Most  dutifull  and  humble  Servants, 
Francis  Jones,  Jasper  Yeates,  Will"  Grant, 

Saml  Peres,  Jarvis  Bywater,  Thos  Briscoll, 

Darby  Greene,  Thomas  Harris,  John  Herris, 


Enoch  Hubord, 
Thos  Walter, 
Thos  Curtis, 
Edwd  Smout, 
Joshua  Carpenter, 
W"  Dyre, 
Addam  Birch, 
John  Sibley, 
Robert  Gilham, 

Vera  Co  pi  a. 


George  Fisher, 
Fardinando  Dowarthy, 
John  Willson, 
Robt  Quarry, 
Sam.  Holt, 
Edw.  Bury, 
Thos  Stapleford, 
John  White, 
John  Gibbs, 


[1698. 

John  Harrison, 
Thomas  Craven, 
Anth'y  Blany, 
Charles  Sober, 
Rob^  Snead, 
Jeremiah  Price, 
Jeremiah  Hunt, 
Geo.  Thompson, 
John  Moore. 


M\  ARROJPSMJTH  to  Governor  NICHOLSON. 


,  Philadelphia,  Port  of  Pennsylvania, 

March  26,  1698. 
May  it  please  your  Excellency, 

Your  last  favor  I  received  the  11th  of  this  instant,  wherein  your  honor  is 
pleased  to  derive  an  account  of  the  affairs  of  this  place,  which  at  present  look 
with  a  very  dull  aspect,  there  being  very  little  encouragement  to  those  of  our 
Church,  but  on  the  contrary  all  permission  of  Quakerisms  imaginable.  They 
have  endowed  a  school  that  is  to  be  kept  free,  with  Eighty  pounds  per  annum, 
which  is  in  effect  to  blast  my  endeavors.  I  have  lived  hitherto  upon  the 
benevolence  of  the  people  which  will  not  afford  me  things  necessary  upon  a 
dependence  of  the  King's  allowance  for  this  place,  which  I  expected  by  Esqr 
Randolph,  but  he  informed  me  of  no  such  order.  Mr.  Antwell  acquaints  me 
of  a  Minister  coming  to  this  place  for  which  reason  I  desire  your  honor's 
advice  which  way  to  dispose  of  myself.  We  have  a  full  Congregation  and 
some  very  desirous  to  receive  the  sacrament  if  it  could  be  administered  at 
Easter ;  I  did  speak  to  Mr.  Sewell  who  gave  me  a  promise  he  would  come. 
This  at  present  from 

Your  honor's,  &c, 

I.  ARROWSMITH. 


1698.]  8 

Philadelphia,  May  6,  1698. 
[Part  of  a  letter  received  from  one  Mr.  Moore,  viz :] 

I  am  sorry  to  acquaint  your  Excellency  that  certain  advice  is  come  of  two 
non.  con.  Ministers  (one  for  Philadelphia  the  other  for  Newcastle),  on  their 
way  hither  from  Boston.     I  need  make  no  comment  but  wish  we  had  where- 
with to  confront  them  least  they  seduce  our  poor  flock. 
These  are  true  copies, 

F.  NICHOLSON. 


Governor  DAN  FORTH  to  Governor  MARKHAM. 

1698. 
Hon'ble  Sir, 

The  act  of  Parliament  that  hath  declared  it  the  right  of  the  subject  to 
Petition  even  the  King  himself,  if  it  cannot  sufficiently  move  for,  yet  it  may 
help  to  aleviate  and  extenuate,  the  crimes  of  presumption  in  addressing  an 
hon'ble  person,  Governing  one  of  his  Majesty's  Plantations  in  his  Majesty's 
name  and  by  his  power.  It  is  conscience  of  duty  to  God  Almighty,  as  well  as 
pity  to  the  precious  souls  of  our  Brethren  and  fellow  subjects,  that  both  moved 
our  Godly  Minister  to  make  some  humble  service  of  the  Ministration  of  the 
glorious  Gospel  of  our  only  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  as  at  other  places, 
so  now  att  Philadelphia  &  Pennsylvania.  Upon  his  service  is  our  beloved 
Brother  Mr.  Benjamin  Woodbridge  now  sent,  not  to  handle  such  points  as  are 
matters  of  controversies  among  Protestants,  but  to  preach  unto  as  many  of  all 
persuasions  as  the  Lord  shall  make  willing  to  hear  such  great  truths  even  as 
are  without  controversy,  even  the  great  mistery  of  Godliness.  When  like 
offers  were  made  at  Rhode  Island  the  Government  then  favored  your  Peti- 
tioner &  the  others  with  the  liberty  of  improving  their  public  Court  house  for 
the  worship  of  God,  and  Church  of  England  Gentlemen  as  well  as  others  of 
other  persuasions  gave  their  kind  and  Godly  attendance  every  Lord's  day. 
To  the  God  of  the  spirits  of  all  flesh  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be  all  the  glory. 
Thus  abundantly  were  we  repaid  the  equanimity  and  civility  which  we  shewed 
to  our  Brethren  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Church  of  England  in  Boston  who  with 
their  Minister,  after  that  he  arrived  had  the  free  use  of  our  Great  Court  House 


9  [1698. 

as  also  the  spacious  new  Meeting  house  in  Boston  for  divine  service,  our 
hours  of  worship  being  so  fixed  as  not  to  interfere  with  theirs.  That  a  stran- 
ger to  your  honor,  an  embassador  of  the  son  of  God  though  most  unworthy, 
in  an  other  Province  now  takes  the  boldness  to  address  your  honor  for  like 
favor  and  kindness  to  be  shewn  unto  our  Godly  Brother  now  sent  unto  your 
Province  on  the  sendee  of  Christ  that  he  may  have  the  liberty  of  your  Court 
house  or  Meeting  house,  it  is  owing  unto  the  fame  and  renowne  that  hath 
arrived  unto  us  &  Captn  Darby  &  others  of  your  honor's  excellent  Christianity, 
candor  &  generosity  and  true  English  nobleness  of  spirit  which  is  extremely 
inviting  &  imboldening  unto  strangers.  So  not  at  all  doubting  that  your 
honor  will  not  only  equal  but  far  exceed  the  fame  that  we  have  heard,  &  crav- 
ing pardon  for  the  boldness,  I  shall  with  many  others  become  an  humble 
Petitioner  at  the  throne  of  Grace  for  your  Honor's  welfare,  happiness  and  rest. 

Hon'ble  Sir,  &c, 

JOHN  DANFORTH. 


Mr.  SUDER  to   Governor, 


Philadelphia,  Novr.  20,  1698. 
Sir, 

I  now  give  your  Excellency  a  true  account  of  this  Country  of  Pennsylva- 
nia relating  to  the  Government  since  my  arrival  in  as  follows. 

In  the  year  1 69*,  I  came  hither  from  Jamaica,  I  not  having  my  health  there 
transported  myself  and  estate  here  in  hopes  to  find  the  same  wholesome  laws 
here  as  in  other  of  his  Majesty's  Plantations;  and  a  quiet  moderate  people, 
but  found  quite  contrary;  found  them  in  brawles  among  themselves  and 
imprisoning  one  another  for  religion — I  was  in  hopes  by  that  they  would  in 
time  make  such  a  discovery  of  their  hypocricy  and  be  ashamed  so  as  to  return 
home  to  their  mother  the  Church  of  England.  I  finding  none  settled  here, 
nor  so  much  as  any  law  for  one,  here  being  a  considerable  number  of  the 
Church  of  England  and  finding  the  prejudice  the  Quakers  had  against  it,  we 
agreed  to  petition  our  sacred  Majesty  that  we  might  have  the  free  excess  of 
our  religion  and  arms  for  our  defence,  we  having  an  account  of  an  attempt 


1698.]  IO 

designed  on  this  place  by  the  French,  by  Coll.  Hamilton  who  had  an  account 
by  a  French  Preacher.  The  Quaker  Magistrate  no  sooner  heard  of  it  but  sent 
for  me  and  the  person  that  mentioned  it,  by  a  Constable  to  their  Sessions. 
They  told  me  they  heard  I  with  some  others  was  Petitioning.  I  told  them  we 
were  Petitioning  his  Majesty  that  we  might  have  a  Minister  of  the  Church  of 
England  for  the  exercise  of  our  Religion  and  to  make  use  of  our  arms  as  a 
Militia  to  defend  our  estates  from  enemies.  Edward  Shippen,  one  of  the 
Quaker  Justices,  turning  to  the  other  of  his  fellows  say'd  "Now  they  have  dis- 
covered themselves.  They  are  a  bringing  the  priest  and  the  sword  amongst 
us  but  God  forbid:  we  will  prevent  them,"  and  ordered  the  King's  Attorney, 
a  Quaker,  to  read  a  law  that  they  had  made  against  any  person  that  shall  write 
or  speak  against  their  Government.  I  told  them  I  hoped  they  would  not  hin- 
der us  of  the  right  of  Petitioning. — They  then  took  one  Griffith  Jones,  an 
Attorney  _at  Law,  on  suspicion  for  writing  it,  into  custody,  and  bound 
him  over  from  Sessions  to  Sessions,  and  threatened  all  that  dared  it,  by 
a  law  they  had  made  against  the  right  of  a  subject.  To  relate  their  partial- 
ity in  their  Courts  as  often  as  they  sit,  were  too  tedious  ;  so  violent  they  are 
against  all  that  are  not  Quakers,  even  to  death. — Their  Judges,  Juries,  nor  evi- 
dence being  never  sworn;  one  was  heard  to  say  he  would  sooner  take  a  Negroe 
that  is  a  heathen's,  word  before  a  Church  of  England  man's  oath;  their  malice 
is  such  towards  us. — I  happening  to  talk  with  one  of  their  Magistrates  con- 
cerning the  danger  we  were  in,  if  the  Privateers  knew  what  a  people  we  were 
as  defenceless;  he  said  that  they  had  an  account  of  all  Privateers  which  were 
ordered  to  these  parts  from  France  wh  first  went  to  K.  James  for  orders,  who  gave 
them  a  particular  charge  not  to  meddle  with  this  place  to  shew  the  extraordi- 
nary kindness  he  has  for  them. — They  indeed  are  all  Jacobites. 

We  hearing  the  dreadful  account  of  the  bloody  conspiracy  against  his 
Majesty's  royal  person  by  assasinations — we  of  the  Church  of  England  formed 
an  address  to  congratulate  his  Majesty's  great  deliverance  by  the  hand  of 
Almighty  God :  I  carried  it  to  Governor  Markham  for  his  approbation  ;  who 
seemingly  liked  of  it,  and  signed  it.  I  then  with  the  assistance  of  others  got 
it  signed  by  many  and  after  some  consultation  (as  I  suppose)  of  the  Quakers 
who  shewed  their  dislike  and  that  it  was  liked  to  go  home,  and  that  the  King 
would  then  see  what  a  number  of  the  Church  of  England  were  here,  he  called 
for  it,  pretending  to  see  it  and  kept  it,  and  would  not  part  with  it ;  so  that  we 
were  hindered  in  expressing  our  duty  as  we  ought. — Governor  Markham  (as  I 


II  [1698. 

suppose),  to  gain  a  proselite  to  Mr.  Penn  and  his  interest,  made  me  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  one  of  his  and  Mr.  Penn's  Magistrates,  not  the  King's.  By  his 
obstructing  me  in  my  duty  to  the  King  as  a  Magistrate  and  a  good  subject  in 
apprehending  the  Pirates ;  my  narrative  of  which,  I  have  herewith  inclosed  ;  it 
being  a  copy  the  original  is  sent  home  from  New  York  by  Mr.  Randolph  and 
attested  by  me  when  there,  to  the  Right  hon'ble  the  Lords  Commissioners  of 
the  Plantations  and  admiralty  and  others  with  the  account  of  the  seizing  and 
smothering  of  Askiatoc's  vessel  ;  for  the  trial  of  which  Mr.  Markham  would 
have  made  me  Judge  of  the  Admiralty  if  I  would  on  that  slender  power  he 
had — he  has  written  to  Colonel  Heathcote  that  I  informed  at  home  against 
him  about  it ;  which  letters  I  doubt  not  will  be  a  sufficient  evidence  against 
him  there  ;  which  I  suppose  your  Excellency  has  had  an  account  of.  Sir,  the 
Quakers  are  so  bold  to  say,  one  of  the  Magistrates  in  my  hearing,  that  they 
did  not  fear  any  that  could  do  any  thing  against  Penn's  Interest  in  this  Gov- 
ernment, no  man  was  more  intimate  with  the  King  than  Mr.  Penn  ;  and  that 
he  was  often  in  private  with  the  King  in  his  closet,  and  hardly  did  any  thing 
without  his  advice — so  they  hug  themselves  under  security  and  that  they  may 
do  what  they  please  they  having  such  an  agent  at  home.  As  long  as  the 
Government  is  in  the  hands  of  Quakers  and  Mr.  Penn  as  they  say  has  such 
interest,  we  that  are  his  Majesty's  subjects  (which  they  are  not  nor  never  will 
be),  we  had  better  live  in  Turkey :  there  is  good  morality  amongst  them  ;  there 
is  none  here ;  they  make  so  little  of  God  and  the  King,  that  to  their  dishonor 
and  our  grief  both  hear  and  see  them  blaspheme  God  through  his  Ministers  : 
they  having  been  heard  to  say,  since  we  have  had  that  blessing  of  so  good  a 
divine  as  the  worthy  Mr.  Clayton,  that  he  is  the  Minister  of  the  doctrine  of 
Devils,  and  his  Majesty's  commission  with  the  seal  to  it  held  up  in  open  Court, 
in  a  ridiculous  manner,  shewing  it  to  the  people  &  laughing  at  it ;  saying 
"Here  is  a  baby  in  a  Tin  box — we  are  not  to  be  frightened  with  babes."  And 
others  have  said  "  The  King  has  nothing  more  to  do  here  than  to  receive  a 
bear  skin  or  two  yearly ;  and  his,  and  the  Parliament's  laws  reach  no  further 
than  England,  Wales  and  the  Town  of  Berwich  upon  Tweed ;  "  and  such  like 
expressions  which  can  all  be  proved  by  sufficient  Witnesses.  Tell  them  in 
their  Courts  that  in  matters  against  us  they  go  against  law,  they  will  answer  on 
the  Bench,  they  will  strain  or  stretch  a  point  of  law,  with  many  other  expres- 
sions and  transactions  to  tedious  here  to  set  down.  They  are  establishing  of 
a  Free  School  for  the  growth  of  Quakerism  and  apostacy ;    which  I  pray  God 


1698.]  12 

in  his  due  time  he  may  direct ;  and  that  we  may  live  to  enjoy  the  liberties  of 
subjects  of  England,  and  not  to  be  governed  by  Dissenters  and  apostates  that 
absolutely  deny  the  Bible  to  be  the  holy  writ,  and  Baptism  and  the  Lord's 
supper,  is  the  prayers  of  your  Excellency's  most  humble  &  most  obedient 
Servant  to  command. 

Praying  your  Excellency  to  pardon  the  trouble  of  this  long  scrawle, 

ROBERT  SUDER. 


M\  MARTIN  to  M\  CLAYTON. 


Philadelphia,  Sepr.  16th,  1698. 
Esteemed  friend  Thos.  Clayton, 

We  received  thy  loving  and  affectionate  lines  directed  to  our  last  yearly 
meeting  and  do  account  it  a  favor  that  thou  art  so  well  persuaded  concerning 
us  as  not  to  account  us  enemies  to  the  Church  of  England  as  indeed  we  are 
not;  but  do  pray  to  God  (according  to  our  weak  ability),  for  the  prosperity 
and  peace  of  all  that  fear  God,  in  all  Societies  of  Christians,  more  especially 
in  her;  by  whose  clemency  (under  God),  we  enjoy  our  present  peace  and 
liberty  both  in  things  spiritual  and  temporal.  But  as  to  our  joining  with  her 
(at  present),  in  strict  fellowship  we  see  not  our  way  clear  for  many  of  us  have 
so  little  knowledge  of  the  Church  of  England  at  present  that  we  do  not  fully 
know  her  principles  as  in  respect  to  practice.  But  as  touching  the  fundamen- 
tal doctrines  of  the  Christian  Faith,  we  generally  believe  she  is  sound — yet  we 
have  seen  several  things  acted  by  her  which  we  think  proceed  from  some  per- 
suasions of  hers  relating  to  practice,  that  we  cannot  suppose  becomes  the 
Church  of  Christ  such  as  severe  fines  and  imprisonments  for  nonconformity  in 
matters  of  conscience,  and  also  sundry  modes  and  customs  in  her  forms  of 
worship,  that  as  yet  we  do  not  find  warranted  by  scripture ;  likewise  several 
other  things  that  we  shall  not  at  present  insist  on  ;  not  intending  to  speak  or 
act  any  thing  that  may  lessen  that  love  and  esteem  that  we  have  for  each 
other ;  desiring  to  continue  that  friendly  correspondence  that  we  have  begun  ; 
that  treating  one  another  as  Brethren  we  may  be  helpful  one  to  another  (as 
the  children  of  one  father),  in  all  christian  conversation;  that  if  possible  those 


13  [i698. 

things  that  obstruct  the  desired  unity  of  the  professors  of  Christianity  may  be 
removed.  For  we  truly  profess  ourselves  to  be  of  the  number  of  those  that 
pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem. — That  all  who  fear  the  Lord  may  be  united 
in  this  world,  believing  they  will  be  so  in  that  which  is  to  come.  This  we  hope 
thou  willt  receive  in  good  will  at  our  hands  as  we  received  thine,  earnestly 
desiring  that  our  love  to  God  and  one  another  may  increase.  In  which  we 
take  leave  and  remain  thy  truly  well  wishing  friends, 

Signed  in  behalf  of  the  Meeting  by 

THOs  MARTIN. 


Mr.  CLAYTON  to  the  CLERGY. 


Philadelphia,  Nov.  29,  1698. 
revd  &  beloved  brethren, 

Yours  I  received  dated  from  Annapolis  Oct.  28,-'98  &c,  and  for  answer  I 
thank  you  for  your  advice  ;  &  I  hope  I  shall  shew  you  by  my  observation  of  it 
that  it  was  not  through  vanity  or  for  ostentation  sake  that  I  have  so  far  pro- 
ceeded as  his  Excellency  was  pleased  to  communicate  unto  you  ;  but  through 
a  necessity. 

Had  any  of  you  been  near  me,  Brethren,  and  I  alone  had  undertaken  this 
I  could  not  so  justly  have  excused  myself  for  what  I  have  done,  but  since  it 
was  not  so  either  I  must  suffer  the  insultings  of  an  ignorant  adversary  or 
defend  myself.  I  hope  I  have  as  yet  done  no  damage  to  our  cause,  if  not 
shall  take  care  how  I  do  any.  Had  not  tne  thoughts  of  my  insufficiency  hin- 
dered me  I  had  prosecuted  this  further  but  not  at  all  to  resist,  when  I  was  hit 
so  hard  in  the  teeth,  I  was  afraid  would  be  a  prejudicial  argument  to  prove 
me  very  stoical  if  not  senseless  ;  and  give  a  greater  advantage  to  my  enemies 
than  as  yet  (I  can  almost  persuade  myself)  I  have  done — I  have  now  by  me 
an  answer  to  the  letter  that  I  sent  to  the  Hoytians  Quakers  as  also  annabap- 
tists  that  I  shall  plough  with  their  own  heifers,  a  considerable  party  being  on  my 
side  and  prosecuting  an  union  vigorously  (God  send  a  wished  for  success), 
which  perhaps  might  have  been  forwarder  if  it  had  been  managed  by  some  of 
you  more  judicious  and  capable  of  it,  but  it  pleased  God  to  fix  my  lot  here. 


I  698.]  14 

All  I  have  further  to  say,  Brethren,  is  that  I  wish  we  were  all  so  placed 
that  we  might  be  assistant  to  one  another,  upon  any  occasion  but  distance  will 
not  suffer  it  so  that  under  such  inconveniences  we  must  struggle  and  quit 
ourselves  as  well  as  we  can. 

Your  prayers  for  me  I  heartily  thank  you  for  and  beg  a  continuance  of 
them  for  me  in  all  our  estates  as  you  may  be  sure  to  have  those  of 

Dear  Brethren,  &c. 

THOs.  CLAYTON. 


Mr.  CLAYTON  to  the  GOVERNOR. 


Philadelphia,  Novr  29,  1698. 
May  it  please  your  Excellency, 

Since  my  last  to  you  I  have  received  an  answer  of  my  letter  to  the  Hoy- 
tians  cast  in  the  same  mold  with  the  former  only  much  longer  and  subscribed 
only  by  the  same  person.  I  had  almost  finisht  my  reply  when  I  received  an 
inhibition  from  my  Brethren  which  stopt  me,  to  which  I  have  sent  an  answer. 
I  shall  take  care  to  obey  them  as  far  as  I  can  upon  the  accounts  they  speak  of. 

I  also  received  your  kind  letters  together  with  those  papers  which  signify 
your  bounty  and  charity  which  shall  be  taken  care  of  and  disposed  of  I  hope 
to  the  satisfaction  of  your  Excellency  and  the  end  you  design  in  them  viz:  the 
glory  of  God  and  the  benefit  of  men. 

I  have  received  also  an  answer  from  the  Keithianes  a  copy  of  which  I  have 
sent  you.  They  had  lately  a  great  Meeting  in  Town,  the  night  before  which 
I  was  sent  for  to  9  or  10  of  the  heads  of  them,  went  and  debated  matters  for 
about  3  or  4  hours  and  (by  the  blessing  of  God)  to  great  satisfaction  of  both 
sides ;  so  that  one  of  them  told  me  they  must  employ  me  to  baptize  their 
children  and  others  and  I  hoped  the  next  day's  consultation  would  make  almost 
a  general  union.  But  it  happened  that  the  next  day  some  of  the  preachers 
that  were  not  with  us  the  night  before  seeing  things  go  on  so  fast  that  they 
were  like  to  lose  the  darling  of  their  ambition  their  preachership ;  they  urged 
Ist  Cor:  14,  29,  30,  31,  and  commented  in  favor  of  themselves  but  were  opposed 
by  some  considerable  ;  that  those  prophets  there  spoken  of,  were  persons  law- 


15  [i698. 

fully  called  to  the  Ministry  by  imposition  of  hands  yet  this  prevailing  upon 
some  of  them  has  put  a  stop  for  a  while.  But  I  with  some  assistants  of  their 
own  party,  am  bringing  the  cause  about  again  and  as  I  am  told  with  good 
success  too  (God  prosper  it). 

I  have  often  talked  with  the  Presbyterian  Minister  and  find  him  such  as  I 
could  wish.  They  tell  me  that  have  heard  him,  that  he  make  a  great  noise: 
but  this  did  not  amase  me,  considering  the  bulk  and  emptiness  of  the  thing ; 
but  he  is  so  far  from  growing  upon  us  that  he  threatens  to  go  home  in  the 
Spring,  and  could  this  be  a  quiet  place  for  him,  yet  he  ought  to  do  this  accord- 
ing to  the  laudable  custom  of  Hugh  Peters  to  bring  them  to  a  better  subscription. 
But  I'll  take  care  to  prevent  the  first  and  leave  the  last  to  the  self  interest  of 
the  people.  I  told  him  upon  a  meeting  between  Brother  Arrowsmith,  he  & 
I,  if  his  congregation  increast  he  must  expect  it  from  me,  but  so  long  as  I  saw 
myself  in  no  danger  I  should  look  after  the  business  already  upon  my  hands. 
This  advantage  he  has  got  on  me,  Madam  Markham  and  her  daughter  because 
I  cannot  be  so  servile  as  to  stoop  to  their  haughty  humors  frequently  leave  my 
Church  and  countenance  their  Meeting;  which  tho'  it  does  not  them  much 
good :  yet  shews  neither  good  breeding,  reason,  nor  religion.  I  am  pretty 
patient  under  it,  till  I  can  see  a  fair  opportunity  to  vent  my  resentments  ;  but 
then  they  may  be  sure  to  have  it  in  so  plain  a  dress  that  they  shall  know  what 
I  mean,  and  why  I  do  it.  I  could  have  wished  that  Brother  Arrowsmith  had  had 
a  little  more  spirit  before  I  came;  but  however,  I  have  too  much  to  do  as  he 
did  (as  I  am  told),  and  that's  the  root  of  these  evils  of  which  I  suffer  a  great 
part,  as  far  as  they  can  inflict  them  so  that  not  the  will  but  the  power  of  doing 
me  more  harm  (I  almost  think),  is  wanting.  The  other  Presbyterian  goes 
from  Newcastle  in  the  Spring  too  (as  I  am  told).  The  Annabaptist  has  not 
answered  me — he  &  the  Presbyterian  (I  am  told),  preach  both  in  one  Meeting, 
the  one  in  the  morning  and  the  other  in  the  afternoon — which  I  upbraided  the 
Presbyterian  with — all  as  being  a  direct  cherishing  a  schism  against  himself, 
as  well  as  me ;  and  would  fain  have  set  him  to  work  against  him  ;  but  could 
not  spur  him  to  it. 

This,  with  my  humble  thanks  for  this  last  charitable  favor  (amongst  many 
former  ones)  is  what  at  present  offers  from 

Your  Excellency's,  &c., 

THO.  CLAYTON. 


i  700.]  1 6 

I  have  sent  an  answer  to  my  Brethren's  letter  if  your  Excellency  think  fit 
it  should  be  conveyed  to  them  I  beg  it,  but  as  your  Excellency  shall  order, 
shall  satisfactorily  acquiese. 

Dr.  Bray's  Exposition  of  the  Baptismal  Covenant,  the  30  Books  that  were 
sent  here,  are  yet  in  my  hands  &  I  cannot  get  information  how  you  ordered 
their  disposal.  If  by  the  next  returns  your  Excellency  will  advise  me  your 
will  shall  be  performed. 


M'\  PORTLOCK  to  the  ARCHP  of  CANTERBURY, 


Philadelphia,  July  1 2th,  1 700. 
May  it  please  your  Grace, 

Did  not  I  know  your  grace's  benignity  I  should  not  presume  upon  these 
lines,  but  since  God  has  in  some  measure  made  me  instrumental  to  his  Glory 
in  promoting  Christianity  in  these  remote  parts  of  the  world,  I  cannot  but  with 
joy  acquaint  your  Grace  what  a  considerable  progress  the  Church  of  England 
has  made  in  this  one  Province,  insomuch  that  in  less  than  four  years  space 
from  a  very  small  number  her  community  consists  of  more  than  five  hundred 
sober  and  devout  souls  in  and  about  this  city,  Notwithstanding  all  the  discour- 
agement and  opposition  we  continually  meet  with.  My  Lord,  the  building  of 
our  church  here  (which  cost  more  than  ^600),  lay  only  upon  some  particular 
persons ;  it  now  (by  the  blessing  of  God)  wants  either  to  be  enlarged  or  re- 
built. Here  is  not  ability  to  do  it.  I  hope  your  Grace  being  at  the  helm  will 
be  mindful  of  us  at  the  stern  when  Providence  shall  think  to  bless  us  with  a 
qualified  Government  immediately  under  his  Royal  Majesty,  then  Christianity 
will  flourish  in  this  Province,  Quakerism  will  be  rooted  out,  and  the  Church 
will  be  more  than  conqueror. 

I  hope  your  Grace  will  pardon  the  boldness  of 

Your  Grace's  most  humble 

and  sincere  addresser, 

EDWARD  PORTLOCK. 


17  [1703. 

M\  KEITH  to  the  LORD  BISHOP  of  LONDON. 


Philadelphia,  Pensylvania,  2  April,  1703. 
My  Lord, 

The  present  occasion  of  my  writing  these  few  lines  to  your  Lordship  is  to 
recommend  to  your  favour  Mr.  John  Thomas,  the  assistant  to  Mr.  Evans  here 
in  the  ministry  and  schoolmaster  in  the  town  of  Philadelphia.  He  received 
the  ordination  of  a  Deacon  from  your  Lordship  a  little  before  he  came  into 
this  country,  and  has  been  here  above  two  years.  About  a  year  hereafter  he 
informs  me  he  intends  to  come  for  London  to  receive  from  your  Lordship  the 
ordination  of  a  Presbyter,  that  he  may  be  further  serviceable  to  ye  Church  of 
Christ  either  here  or  elsewhere  as  divine  Providence  shall  order  him. 

I  certifie  to  your  Lordship  that  he  is  a  person  of  very  good  repute  among 
all  and  a  very  good  character  among  the  people  here  both  from  those  of  the 
church  and  also  from  others  for  his  good  behaviour  and  his  great  diligence  in 
attending  the  school,  and  his  extraordinary  pains  in  preaching  in  sundry  coun- 
try places  who  have  no  settled  minister  among  them,  which  as  also  the  like 
extraordinary  pains  of  Mr.  Evans  in  his  preaching  in  country  places  have  had 
very  good  effects.     My  worthy  Lord,  I  remain, 

Your  most  humble  servant, 

GEO.  KEITH. 


The  LORD  CORNBURT  to  the  LORD  BISHOP  of 

LONDON 


Burlington,  23  August,  1703. 
My  Lord, 

I   trouble   your  Lordship  with    these  lines  in    behalf  of  the    bearer,  Mr. 

Thomas,  who  is  a  very  sober,  ingenious  Gentleman.     He  has  served  in  the 

church  at  Philadelphia  as  Lecturer  upwards  of  three  years.     The  minister  of 

that  church  (one    Mr.  Evans),  who  is  a  very   sober,   pious  man,  gives   Mr. 


1703].  i8 

Thomas  an  excellent  character,  and  so  do  all  the  Gentlemen  of  that  church, 
where  through  the  blessing  of  God  upon  those  two  Gentlemen's  endeavours, 
there  is  now  a  congregation  of  near  five  hundred  persons.  Mr.  Thomas  has 
likewise  set  up  a  school  att  Philadelphia,  where  he  has  taught  with  very  good 
success.  The  occasion  of  his  going  to  England  now  is  in  order  to  be  admitted 
into  Priest's  orders.  I  hope  your  Lordship  will  grant  him  his  request,  and  that 
you  would  send  him  to  be  Minister  either  of  Jamaica  or  Hempstead  in  Long 
Island,  is  the  request  of, 

My  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  most  humble  serv1, 

CORNBURY. 


The  Minister  and  Vestry  of  the  Church  at  Philadelphia  to  the 
LORD  BISHOP  of  LONDON. 


Philadelphia,  August  31st,  1703. 
May  it  please  your  Lordship, 

Mr.  John  Thomas,  the  bearer,  returning  to  your  Lordship  for  Priest's  or- 
ders, we  think  ourselves  in  Justice  obliged  to  certifie  your  Lordship  that  for 
the  time  he  remained  among  us  (which  was  about  three  years),  he  demeaned 
himself  very  soberly  and  unblameably,  &  gave  the  enemies  of  the  church  not 
the  least  occasion  of  censuring  his  actions,  but  by  his  discreet  and  prudent 
behaviour  carried  himself  inoffensively  towards  all  people,  &  by  using  more 
than  ordinary  industry  has  been  instrumental  of  doing  very  good  service  to 
the  church  of  God  in  this  province,  particularly  in  this  church  of  Philadelphia, 
and  Trinity  church  nine  miles  distant  from  this  City.  As  also  his  sedulity  & 
good  management  of  the  school  which  he  has  performed  to  the  satisfaction  of 
all  concerned,  both  children  and  Parents. 

And  now,  my  Lord,  considering  the  good  services  he  has  performed  in  this 
Infant  church,  and  his  sober  deportment  suiteable  to  the  sacred  character  he 
bore,  we  humbly  recommend  him  to  your  Lordship's  immediate  Favor  and 
Patronage,  not  doubting  but  your  Lordship,  out  of  your  usual  candor  &  be- 


19  [I704- 

nignity,  will  look  upon  him  with  a  favourable  aspect,  which,  with  our  hearty 
Prayers  for  your  Lordship's  Temporal  &  eternal  happiness,  is  all  from, 
My  Lord,  Your  Lordship's 

Most  dutifull  sons  &  Servts, 
EVAN  EVANS, 

Rector  of  Philadelphia,  et  al. 


M'\  NICHOLLS  to  M\  HODGES. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Upland,  alias  Chester,  Pensylvania,  ] 
30th  April,  1 704.  J 

Sir, 

*  *  *  This  province  is  most  worthy  the  consideration  that  Revd  Body 
because  I  may  boldly  say  they  are  least  provided,  &  best  disposed  to  receive 
Christ's  Ministers  of  any  people  in  America,  although  Philadelphia  be  not  my 
cure  immediately,  yet  I  am  equally  joyed  to  find  the  pure  Christian  Faith  Flour- 
ish in  that  town  ;  I  guess  that  ^  of  the  Inhabitants  may  be  church  men.  My 
work  is  mostly  before  me,  tho'  I  heartily  confess  that  much  is  done  to  my 
hands  by  the  care  &  piety  of  those  Revd  Gentlemen  whom  I  found  in  these 
parts :  insomuch  that  I  do  not  want  a  considerable  congregation  every  Lord's 
Day,  notwithstanding  my  being  seated  in  the  very  middle  of  the  Quakers. 
And  now  I  refer  you  because  I  would  not  be  too  troublesome,  to  the  Revd  Mr. 
Keith  for  a  more  particular  account,  who  is  able  to  do  much  better  than  I  am, 
who  I  am  sure  will  not  much  regard  the  character  I  can  give  him,  having  al- 
ways been  a  stranger  to  him  and  his  works  till  he  was  pleased  to  communicate 
them  to  me.  He  is  esteemed  according  to  his  merit  by  all  such  whose  repre- 
sentations are  worth  our  notice.  If  his  adversaries  speak  evil  of  him  reproach- 
fully, that  is  his  glory.  I  wish  he  were  to  be  succeeded  by  one  of  his  abilities. 
He  has  left  his  assistant,  Mr.  Talbot  behind  him,  a  gentleman  who  has  acquired 
the  affection  &  esteem  of  all  persons  in  the  places  where  he  has  travelled,  by 
his  learning,  industry  and  piety.     ****** 


1 704.]  20 

M\  EVANS  to  the  BISHOP  of  LONDON. 

New  York,  Octr  1 7th,  1 704. 
RT  Reverend  Father, 

The  Design  of  my  coming  to  this  place,  was  to  meet  the  Revd  Clergy  of 
this  and  the  neighboring  Provinces  in  order  to  consult  how  to  carry  on  that 
blessed  Design  of  promoting  the  Good  of  the  Church  the  present  state 
whereof  we  have  transmitted  to  your  Lordship  by  the  Jersey  man  of  War. 

As  to  the  Church  in  Philadelphia  (the  care  of  wch  your  Lordship  has 
pleased  to  commit  to  me),  by  the  blessing  of  God  it  continues  to  flourish,  and 
the  whole  Burden  has  layn  upon  my  shoulders,  Since  Mr.  Thomas  has  returned 
for  England,  of  preaching  twice  every  Sunday  and  of  reading  prayers  thrice, 
administering  the  Sacrament  monthly,  besides  other  necessary  dutys  of  visit- 
ing the  Sick,  Reading  Prayers  upon  holy  days,  and  Wednesdays  and  Fridays. 
Yet  (thanks  be  to  my  gracious  God),  I  am  enabled  to  perform  the  whole  ser- 
vice with  approbation  and  Success.  I  have  lately  admitted  several  Quakers 
into  the  church  by  Baptism,  and  others  wth  whom  I  have  had  private  Confer- 
ences are  in  a  fair  way  of  embracing  her  communion. 

May  it  please  your  Lordship,  &c,  &c, 

EVAN  EVANS. 


M\  EVANS  to  M\  KEITH. 


Philadelphia,  Oct.  25th,  1704. 
Reverend  Sir, 

I  received  your  obliging  Letter  from  Virginia,  and  return  you  my  greatful 
Acknowledgements  for  all  your  kindnesses  to  me  in  particular,  as  well  as  the 
Church  in  general,  who  have  reaped  great  benefit  from  your  pious  instructions. 
The  Clergy  of  the  Province  of  New  York,  the  Itinerants  for  the  Jerseys,  Mr. 
Nichols,  the  Minister  of  Chester,  and  myself  conven'd  at  New  York  in  order 
to  consider  of  ways  and  means   to  promote   the  Interest  of  our   respective 


21  [i7°4- 

churches,  and  to  make  a  joint  Representation  of  the  present  state  of  them  to 
our  Diocesan  the  good  Bishop  of  London,  and  the  Society  for  the  propaga- 
tion of  the  Faith  in  Foreign  parts.     The  Result  of  our  Consultation  is  trans- 
mitted to  his  Lordship,  and  that  honourable  Board  by  the  Jersey  Man  of  War, 
bound  from  York  to  London,  and  Mr.  Talbot  assured  me  that  he  would  send 
you  an  ample  Account  of  the  whole  Affair  by  the  same  Vessel,  so  that  I  shall 
not  need  to  make  any  repetition,  only  I  shall  observe  to  you  that  the  Church 
here  by  the  blessing  of  a  peculiar  Providence  continues  to  flourish.     I  have 
baptized  several  persons  that  were  formerly  Quakers  since  you  left  this  place, 
and  there  is  one  Joshua  Finsher  that  married  Susanna  Harwood's  Daughter, 
a  man  of  One  and  Twenty  years  of  age,  that  I  have  been  Instrumental  to 
bring  over  lately.    He  was  never  a  Keithian,  being  very  young  when  the  breach 
happened  about  eleven  or  twelve  years  ago.     He  is  a  sober  man  and  of  good 
understanding.  The  method  that  I  took  with  him  was  to  compare  the  Quotations 
cited  by  you,  in  your  Narritive  wth  the  Quakers'  Books  wch  prov'd  of  excellent 
service,  as  well  as  the  Author  of  the  Snake's  last  Treatise  with  their  Blasphem- 
ous Assertions.  The  old  Quakers  are  fallen  from  their  wonted  courage  as  well 
as  their  ancient  Principles,  for  they  declined  the  Challenge  given  them  by  Mr. 
Talbot  last  yearly  meeting  at  Burlington,  pretending  they  would  not  recede  from 
any  Priviledge  granted  them  by  her  Maty  whereof  the  enjoyment  of  the  free  Ex- 
ercise of  their  Religion,  without  molestation  they  looked  upon  to  be  one,  but 
they  said  they  would  answer  in  print.     I  doubt  not  but  you  will  receive  a  par- 
ticular Account  of  the  whole  transaction  by  this  Fleet.     Captn  Tregeny,  who 
is  to  be  buried  to-morrow,  dyed  professing  the  Faith  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land.    I  am  to  prepare  myself  to  preach  at  his  Funeral,  So  that  I  have  not 
time  now  to  enlarge.     Mrs.  Piers  was  extreamly  ill  lately,  but  is  now  pretty 
well  recovered.     All  your  Friends  here  are  well,  and  desired  me  to  send  you 
their  kind  love.     Joshua  Carpenter  is  one  of  the  Assembly  for  Philadelphia. 
I  am  in  haste,  w^  my  humble  Duty  to  my  Lord  of  London,  and  my  kindest 
Respects  to  your  Self,  dear  Sir, 

Yours,  &c,  &c, 

EVAN  EVANS. 
Mr.  Rudman  is  now  here  and  desires 
that  you  would  be  pleased  to  promote 
the  Interest  of  the  Country  church  w0" 
the  Society.  The  Clergy  writ  in  his  be- 
half to  my  Lord  of  London 


I704.]  2  2 

The   Minister  and  Vestry  of  Chester,  alias  Uplands,  in    Pen- 

sylvania,  to  the  Society. 


To  the  Rl  hon'ble  and  Rl  Reverend  the  Members  of  the  Society  Incorporated 
for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts : 

Most  Reverend, 

We,  the  Vestry  and  Minister  of  Sl  Paul's  in  Chester,  or  Upland,  in  the 
Province  of  Pensylvania,  Members  of  the  Communion  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, being  assembled  together,  considering  in  what  Relation  of  Duty  we 
stand  to  you  for  the  more  than  paternal  care  wch  you  had  to  our  Spiritual 
Concerns,  make  this  Representation  of  our  Condition,  That  you  may  not  be 
Ignorant  what  Success  your  pious  labours  have  had  in  the  Service  of  Christ, 
and  also  in  what  things  you  may  be  by  God's  blessing  upon  your  endeavours 
further  instrumental  toward  the  promotion  of  his  Glory. 

Reverend  Gentlemen, 

We  thank  you  heartily  for  your  generous  and  Seasonable  Contribution  to 
the  maintenance  of  our  Minister.  The  Lord  reward  you  with  the  riches  and 
Treasures  of  his  heavenly  kingdom.  And  herein  we  must  confess  that  with- 
out your  Support  he  had  met  with  more  than  ordinary  hardships  and  difficul- 
ties. What  we  were  able  we  did  willingly  Subscribe,  but  there  being  but  few 
of  us  that  can  be  look'd  upon  as  people  fixed  to  the  Interest  of  the  Church 
of  England,  we  were  loth  to  venture  the  Loss  of  such  as  have  but  lately  re- 
turned from  Quakerism  to  our  Communion,  by  pressing  upon  them  to  joyn 
along  with  us  to  their  charge  and  expense.  Of  this  Number  there  are  a  great 
many  who  tho'  they  are  not  constant  personal  Attendants,  yet  when  Some  are 
absent  others  are  present.  So  that  every  Lord's  day  we  have  a  full  congre- 
gation. We  could  wish  with  all  our  hearts  that  we  were  able  to  take  the  Bur- 
den from  off  your  Shoulders,  for  we  are  very  sensible  how  necessary  it  is  that 
our  Minister  should  have  a  comfortable  and  creditable  maintenance.  We 
therefore  desiring  his  further  Support  humbly  lay  before  your  venerable  Body, 
That  we  have  Sometime  since  represented  to  the  Right  Reverend  and  honble 
the  Bishop  of  London,  how  that  there  is  in  this  Town  a  curious  parcel  of  Land 


23  [1704. 

situate  on  the  River  side  and  most  convenient  to  be  laid  out  into  Lots  to  build 
houses  upon,  wch  would  turn  to  considerable  Accounts.  This  land  was  given 
to  the  Swedes  Church  by  Armgardt  Pappegaya,  daughter  to  Governor  Printz, 
the  first  Swedish  Governor  for  their  use.  Afterwards  it  was  in  Mr.  Penn's 
time  Surveyed  and  laid  out  for  the  same  use  by  a  Warrant  from  him.  Now 
certain  Swedes  have  since  sold  this  Land  to  one  David  Lloyd,  a  Quaker  (Tho* 
many  of  them  especially  those  that  live  in  this  Neighbourhood  did  and  do 
disapprove  of  this  Sale),  yet  we  humbly  conceive  Since  the  said  land  in  the 
said  Government  was  given  to  the  use  of  the  Church,  and  that  they  not  using 
it  to  that  intent,  that  Government  being  changed  into  English  remains  now  to 
the  use  of  the  Church  of  England,  Yet  the  means  to  have  it  established  and 
Settled  we  are  Strangers  to,  and  therefore  humbly  crave  your  assistance  to 
put  us  in  a  way,  and  to  obtain  an  Interest  sufficient  to  counter  Mr.  Penn  and 
this  Lloyd,  who  is  a  Lawyer  and  a  rich  man.  The  Swedes  that  are  dissatisfied 
are  mostly  Members  of  our  Congregation,  and  go  nowhere  else. 

We  likewise  are  willing  upon  the  same  concern  of  our  Minister's  content 
and  welfare  to  propose  that  you  would  be  pleased  to  Solicite  her  Majesty  that 
he  may  be  supported  out  of  the  Revenue  of  her  Majesty's  Customs  that  shall 
fall  out  in  this  Province,  as  the  Minister  of  Philadelphia  is.  We  have  been 
given  to  hope  that  this  is  very  practicable.  These  things  we  do  not  so  much 
lay  before  you  through  discontent  for  what  we  have  done  our  Selves,  together 
with  your  magnificent  benevolence,  but  that  we  being  Joyful  of  having  such  a 
blessing  among  us,  are  desirous  it  might  be  so  established  that  we  should 
never  want  the  same,  and  if  attainable  by  either  of  these  two  proposed  means 
it  is  equal  to  us,  Tho'  all  this  while  we  are  bold  to  beg  for  the  continuation  of 
your  Bounty,  it  being  the  main  Support  we  must  depend  upon  at  last. 

Our  Church  is  well  nigh  finished.  We  will  decently  furnish  it  as  far  as  our 
country  can  supply  us  with  matter.  We  want  Vestments  for  our  Pulpit.  A 
Chalice  was  given  of  seven  pound  price,  being  part  of  a  Bounty  given  by  the 
Honble  Sir  Jeffrey  Jeffreys. 

Our  greatest  want  is  a  Schoolmaster  to  instruct  our  Children  and  Youth, 
which  we  are  obliged  to  suffer  to  be  corrupted  with  the  base  principles  they 
must  needs  suck  from  Quaker  Masters  and  Mistresses.  There  is  a  Gentle- 
man living  in  this  Town  of  a  very  sober  conversation,  formerly  educated  in 
the  University  of  Dublin,  whom  we  are  bold  to  commend  to  your  honble  Body. 
He  will   engage  in  Service   if  he  were  encouraged  with  Thirty  or  Twenty 


I7Q4-]  24 

pound  Ster1  per  Annum,  payable  either  from  yourselves  or  the  Queen's  Cus- 
toms.    His  name  is  Philip  Eilbeck. 

The  Lord  prosper  and  bless  your  godly  intentions  to  the  utter  subversion 
of  the  Enemies  of  Christ,  his  Sacred  Ordinances  and  the  holy  Scriptures. 
Upon  these  occasions  we  have  more  especial  reason  to  observe  what  the 
Apostles  prescribed  to  all  Churches.  That  we  remember  them  wch  have  the 
Rule  over  us  who  have  either  themselves  spoken  unto  us  the  word  of  God  of 
have  caused  it  to  be  spoken,  whose  faith  we  will  follow,  considering  the  end 
of  their  Conversation. 

God  be   gracious  unto   his  Church,  and  Reward  such  glorious  Lights  wth 
double  honour  both  here  and  hereafter.     These  are  the  prayers  of, 
Reverend  Sirs, 

Your  devoted  obedient  Sons  and  Servants, 

Jasper  Yeates,  Hen.  Nichols,  Minister,  James  Sanderlandes, 

WH  Pickett,  E'vvd  Danger,  Wm  Davies, 

Thos  Powell,  Wm  Martin,  Tho.  Baldwine, 

John  Wade,  Hen.  Pierce,  Jer.  Collet. 

P.  S. — Most  Reverend  Gentlemen, 

We  beg  leave  separately  from  our  Minister,  Mr.  Nichols,  to  return  you  our 
humble  Thanks  for  your  care  in  sending  so  good  and  worthy  a  Man  among 
us  whose  life  and  conversation  has  hitherto  been  answerable  to  his  Profession. 
We  wish  our  Neighbouring  Churches  and  those  that  have  not  yet  this  advan- 
tage may  be  blest  with  men  of  his  Disposition,  wch  will  be  the  only  way  to 
answer  your  pious  care  and  promote  the  End  of  their  coming  here. 

Jasper  Yeates,  James  Sanderlandes,  Wm  Pickett, 

Edw.  Danger,  Wm  Davis,  Thos.  Powell, 

W.  Martin,  Thos.  Baldwin,  John  Wade. 

Hen.  Pierce,  Jer.  Collet, 


25  [1705. 

Governour  EVANS  to  Mr.  STUBS. 

Phila,  23d  August,  1705. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  wrote  you  one  of  the  14  February  170*  via  New  England,  which  was  in 
Answer  to  one  you  were  so  kind  to  favour  me  with  by  Mr.  Club,  the  School- 
master of  this  place.  I  hope  it  is  come  to  your  hands.  He  engaged  me  to 
write  a  word  in  his  behalf  to  some  Member  of  your  worthy  Society,  And  I 
flatter  myself  (that  as  I  know  none  more  capable  of  serving  an  honest 
man),  what  I  shall  say  on  his  behalf  will  be  acceptable  to  Mr.  Stubs ;  he  is 
really  one  that  I  think  spares  no  pains  in  his  Imployment  for  the  Instruction 
of  those  under  his  charge,  wch  as  it  is  a  work  of  the  noblest  and  first  concern, 
the  Forming,  Implanting  and  Regulating  the  principles  on  which  depends  our 
future  Conduct,  so  it  is  highly  worthy  the  Care  and  Patronage  of  a  great  and 
good  Society,  and  therefore  we  are  bound  to  be  thankful  for  the  Encourage- 
ment they  have  been  pleased  to  give  Mr.  Club  therein.  He  has  been  Assist- 
ing in  some  Measure  to  our  Minister  Mr.  Evans,  whose  Charge  is  very  con- 
siderable, and  requires  a  great  deal  of  Service.  Now  Mr.  Stubs  if  some  ad- 
ditional Encouragement  from  the  Society7  on  his  behalf  might  be,  I  know  of 
no  properer  Measure  to  obtain  it  than  through  your  Interest.  And  I  hope  I 
shall  without  being  thought  unnecessary  medling  render  him  this  piece  of 
Service  of  recommending  it  to  you,  for  I  assure  you,  Mr.  Stubs,  I  shall  never 
move  anything  for  the  sake  of  any  particular,  without  including  a  public  ad- 
vantage. Just  now  I  recd  another  favour  by  yours  of  the  18th  April  by  Mr. 
Ross,  a  missionary  to  New  Castle,  with  Mr.  Crawford  to  Dover  hundred  in 
Kent  County,  two  welcome  Instances  of  the  Bounty  and  Christian  Zeal  of  the 
Society,  and  my  Lord  of  London's  paternal  and  tender  Care  for  the  Advance- 
ment of  God's  Glory  in  this  Infant  Colony.  May  every  thing  occur  to  carry 
on  the  great  Design.  Mr.  Stubs  does  not  (I  believe)  doubt  of  all  the  true 
Services  I  am  able  to  do  them  for  their  Encouragement  here,  I  assure  you 
I  look  upon  it  as  the  highest  part  of  my  Duty.  I  beg  the  favour  to  hear  from 
you  as  often  as  conveniently  you  can,  if  there  is  any  thing  you  can  imagine  of 
Service  here  within  my  power,  pray  as  often  hint  it  to  me,  and  my  Endeavours 
shall  be  Employ'd  with  sincerity  to  put  it  into  practice. 

Pray  give  my  service  and  respects  to  the  worthy  Dr.  Benwick  your  Brother 


1705.]  26 

and  his  Lady,  as  occasion  serves.  I  should  have  writ  now  to  him,  but  I  can- 
not possibly,  having  much  business  to  dispatch,  and  the  Ship  has  staid 
purely  on  my  Account  these  two  days  past,  therefore  I  must  conclude,  desiring 
you  to  accept  this  as  a  Cordial  offer  of  my  utmost  Service  to  your  self, 

Revd  Sr, 

Your  faithful  Servant,  &c,  &c. 

JOHN  EVANS. 

Philadelphia,  the  province  of  Pensylvania,  1 
23rd  August,  1705.  j 

M".  Stubs, 

I  have  occasion  to  add  further  since  I  finished  the  foregoing,  upon  sight  of 
a  Letter  from  the  Revd  Mr.  George  Keith  to  our  Minister  here,  Mr.  Evans, 
wch  Letter  of  Mr.  Keith's  I  find  is  chiefly  in  answer  to  one  he  recd  from  one 
Edwd  Eaton,  giving  a  false  and  villanous  Account  of  the  Revd  and  worthy  Mr. 
Rudman's  Doctrine  which  he  set  forth  here  in  a  most  Scandalous  and  vilify- 
ing Libel.  Now  I  find  by  Mr.  Keith's  that  he  has  insinuated  himself  by  his 
pretended  Zeal  into  that  honest  Gentleman's  favour  so  far  as  to  persuade  him 
that  his  only  aim  was  to  detect  Mr.  Rudman's  unsound  Doctrines,  and  that  he 
has  been  very  hardly  us'd  and  Imprisoned  by  Quaker  Magistrates. 

Now  since  I  find  that  the  Consequence  has  been  the  Lessoning  Mr.  Rud- 
man's Character  with  the  honble  Society,  and  may,  if  not  prevented,  give  so 
great  a  discouragement  to  that  worthy  Minister  as  to  deprive  us  of  his  assist- 
ance here  wch  is  to  the  greatest  satisfaction  and  Benefit  of  the  Church,  and  the 
Loss  of  him  would  be  very  sensibly  felt.  I  shall  give  a  Short  Account  of 
Eaton  to  my  own  knowledge,  and  leave  the  Defence  and  more  large  State  of 
the  Case  to  Mr.  Rudman  himself,  who  I  doubt  not  will  give  entire  satisfaction 
to  the  Society  in  the  present  Case,  and  of  Doctrines  in  general,  wch  all  wee 
that  are  here  to  Judge  of  it  by  hearing,  must  in  Justice  allow  to  be  sound, 
Learned  and  Orthodox. 

As  to  the  Account  thus. 

Mr.  Rudman  preaches  at  a  Congregation  in  Oxford  Township,  about  Eight 
miles  from  this  place,  where  this  Eaton  was  sometimes  auditor.  Mr.  Rudman 
is  a  man  allowed  to  be  one  of  the  most  learned  men  that  ever  came  into 
America,  and  tho'  his  Doctrines  be  very  sound,  and  he  generally  endeavours 
to  restrain  himself  to  the  capacity  of  his  hearers,  yet  you  know  that  some  are 


27  [1705. 

Strong  and  capable,  others  weaker.  This  Eaton  not  capable  of  judging  Points 
of  any  Nicety,  was  dissatisfied  at  some  part  of  what  he  had  heard,  and  with- 
out further  hesitation,  after  service  ended,  attacks  the  Minister  in  the  face  of 
the  Congregation,  telling  him  aloud  he  broach'd  false  doctrines  and  lies  (how 
unfit  a  method  in  such  a  case)  ;  thereupon  writes  a  seditious  Libel  called  a 
hue  &  Cry  after  false  Doctrines,  and  (if  you  have  not  seen  the  most  infamous 
Libel  was  ever  pend,  Mr.  Keith  I  believe  can  help  you  to  the  sight  of  it) 
Published  it. 

The  Conofre^ation  fearing  least  Divisions  should  arise,  and  the  Members 
be  discouraged  from  frequenting  the  Church  if  such  open  affronts  to  her 
Ministers  should  be  passd  by,  Sent  four  of  the  most  considerable  to  a  Justice 
of  the  peace,  one  Captn  Finney,  a  Gentleman  well  known  of  good  affection 
to  the  Church,  and  of  very  considerable  Estate,  whom  I  put  into  Commission 
of  the  peace  on  my  first  arrival,  he  being  the  nearest  Justice,  being  at  Frank- 
fort, but  three  miles  distant.  I  was  then  at  Capn  Finneys  when  these  persons 
came,  and  in  my  hearing  they  were  Sworn  by  the  said  Justice  to  the  Matter 
of  fact,  which  Deposition  were  sent  to  the  Attorney  General  in  order  to  pros- 
ecute at  the  next  Court. 

In  the  Interim  comes  out  this  Libel,  sent  by  himself  to  Mr.  Evans,  our 
Minister,  with  a  Letter  impudently  owning  himself  the  Author.  It  was  brought 
to  me,  and  upon  the  perusal  I  thought  fit  to  send  for  Eaton  to  Town,  who 
owning  the  whole  (pretending  it  for  God's  glory  and  service),  I  told  him  he 
must  instantly  to  Goal  unless  he  could  find  Baile,  wch  not  being  able  to  do, 
thither  I  sent  him ;  however  one  came  next  day  and  offered  bail  for  him,  wch 
was  taken.  And  whereas  he  impudently  informed  Mr.  Keith  of  his  suffering 
much  hardship  by  the  Quaker  Magistrates,  I  do  assure  you  (for  I  was  present 
in  Court  at  his  Tryal)  there  was  not  one  Quaker  Magistrate  concerned  upon 
the  Bench,  nor  from  first  to  last  was  any  one  concerned  excepting  only  his 
Counsel,  who  is  a  Quaker,  one  David  Lloyd,  So  that  by  this  part  you  see 
what  Credit  is  to  be  given  to  the  rest  of  such  a  Villain's  Information. 

But  to  give  you  yet  one  more  Instance  of  this  Eaton's  Schismatic  Spirit  he 
has  in  the  same  infamous  Manner  libell'd  another  of  our  Clergy  heretofore, 
one  Mr.  Thomas,  sent  by  my  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  well  known  here  to  be 
a  Sound  Preacher  and  good  Liver. 

I  should  never  have  given  you  this  trouble  about  so  insignificant  and  base 
a  fellow,  But  to  do  that  Justice  to  a  worthy,  honest  man,  I  owe,  as  I  have  done 


i7°5-]  28 

here.  And  that  if  it  happens  on  any  occasion  before  the  hon'ble  Society,  you 
may  be  able  by  this  Information  to  serve  a  very  deserving,  ingenious  man, 
and  thereby  I  have  the  pleasure  of  gratifying  Mr.  Stubs'  inclination.  The 
whole  I  do  assure  you  is  truth  to  my  knowledge  (except  that  concerns  Mr. 
Thomas,  wch  I  have  by  general  Information).  And  I  crave  leave  to  assure 
you  with  the  same  truth  and  Sincerity  that  I  am, 

Revd  Sir, 

Your  faithful  Servant,  &c,  &c, 

JOHN  EVANS. 
Philadelphia,  in  the  Province  of  Pensylvania, 

24th  Augst,  1705. 


Address  from   St.   Paul's   Church  in  Chester,   Pensylvania. 


To  his  Grace  Thomas,  Lord  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  Metropolitan  of  all 
England  and  President  of  the  honble  Society  for  Propagation  of   the 
Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  and  all  the  honble  Members  of  that  Body. 
May  it  please  your  Grace  and  the  houhle  Members, 

We  the  People  and  Members  of  St.  Paul's  Church  in  Chester,  Pensyl- 
vania, your  Grace's  Sons  and  Servants,  have  presumed  to  Address  your  Grace 
separate  from  our  Reverend  Minister  Mr.  Henry  Nichols  presenting  our  hum- 
blest Thanks  for  your  most  paternal  care  over,  and  munificence  towards  us, 
as  nothing  could  be  more  useful  so  nothing  could  be  more  acceptable  to  us 
than  a  supply  of  the  Liturgys  of  our  holy  Mother,  the  Church  of  England,  in 
the  Ignorance  of  whose  Excellency  many  of  us  have  the  greatest  reason  to 
Lament  the  long  happy  time  we  have  lost,  God  give  us  grace  (we  humbly  beg 
the  benefit  of  your  Effectual  prayers),  to  make  reparation  for  it.  Our  greatest 
Joy  is  that  we  have  a  merciful  God,  and  we  find  by  good  Experience  that  next 
to  the  sacred  Oracles  there  can  be  no  surer  means  for  us  to  practise  that  holi- 
ness wch  is  the  Doctrines  of  our  holy  Church  than  this  admirable  Compo- 
sure of  Prayer.  Oh  !  to  God  that  we  were  so  sound  in  that,  as  we  are  in  love 
to  this  Church ! 

We  bless  God,  we  thank  your  Grace  and  all  the  honble  Members  for  the 


29  [1705. 

Assistance  and  Encourag'  we  have  to  work  out  our  Salvation  by  the  Labours 
of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Nichols  whose  Industry  and  pious  Care  to  reduce  the 
People  here  from  Quakerism's  Errors  and  heresys  to  embrace  true  Christian 
principles  backt  with  undeniable  Arguments  and  very  exemplary  life  and  Con- 
versation justly  Chalenges  our  most  humble  Acknowledgements  to  your 
Grace  and  the  rest  of  the  honble  Members  of  that  venerable  Society  for  the 
Annual  Encouragements  you  are  pleased  to  give  him  and  commendations  of 
him  to  your  further  fafours. 

We  observe  in  the  Printed  Papers  in  that  column  concerning  the  demands 
upon  the  Society  there  is  mention  made  for  a  School  in  this  place  and  we 
think  it  would  be  of  great  Service,  being  in  the  very  centre  of  Quakerism, 
and  the  great  numbers  of  young^Quakers  in  this  County  who  are  not  provided 
for  by  People  of  their  own  Persuasion  and  whose  Parents  are  not  able  to  pro- 
vide for  them  else  where,  necessity  would  oblige  them  to  send  them  where 
they  might  imbibe  such  Principles  as  afterwards  they  could  not  easily  forget. 
We  cannot  promise  great  matters  but  verily  believe  that  every  body  (even  the 
Quakers),  would  gratify  him  according  to  their  Abilities,  And  yet  in  the  midst 
of  our  comfort  and  unity,  one  among  another,  we  meet  (what  we  are  sensible 
we  ought  to  expect  tho'  not  from  such  Quarters),  great  Obstructions  to  our 
Alacrity  from  Enemies,  as  particularly  that  sore  reproach  cast  upon  us  by  Mr. 
Commissary  Blair  in  his  Deposition  ag*  our  prime  Benefactor,  Col.  Francis 
Nicholson,  before  her  Majesty's  council  to  this  Effect,  That  he  used  to  send 
Presents  to  the  Ministers  and  churches  in  the  Northward  whenever  he  wanted 
any  of  their  flattering  Commendations. 
May  it  please  your  Grace, 

We  never  mentioned  one  word  against  Mr.  Blair's  Person  or  Character  in 
our  Lives,  and  what  we  said  Thankfully  in  honour  of  Col.  Nicholson  we  think 
rather  to  fall  short  of  than  to  exceed  our  Duty.  Such  Gratitude  we  need  not 
be  ashamed  of,  only  we  would  not  be  thought  by  the  world  such  base  Igno- 
minious Flatterers,  as  to  act  so  notoriously  against  our  Consciences  for  the 
sake  of  any  man.  'Tis  Pity  that  Religious  Gentlemen  should  suffer  instead 
of  being  benefited  by  our  Innocent  and  (why  may  we  not  say)  virtuous  inten- 
tions, But  if  he  and  we  be  still  happy  in  the  favourable  opinion  of  your  Grace, 
and  the  honble  Society  our  Troubles  will  be  much  alleviated. 

We  once  more  humbly  Supplicate  your  Grace's  and  the  good  Society's 
Blessing,  Favour  and  Prayers,  hoping  that  as  to  encourage  virtue  and  good 


1707.]  3o 

Men  is  your  only  work,  so  that  you  would  Continue  your  Esteem  of  our  Ben- 
efactor and  Charity  to  us  is  the  humble  Requests  of, 

May  it  please  your  Grace,  &c,  &c, 

JASPER  YEATES,  and  others. 


The  LORD  BISHOP  of  LONDON  to  the  SECRETARY. 

Fulham,  Septr  25,  1707. 
Sir, 

I  have  been  very  much  called  upon  by  the  Welshmen  in  Pennsylvania,  who 
are  pretty  numerous,  &  some  of  them  understand  not  a  word  of  English  & 
therefore  they  begg  they  may  have  one  sent  over  to  them  that  can  preach  in 
Welsh.  Now  the  Bearer,  Mr.  Evans,  will  undertake  to  provide  a  man  for  that 
purpose  if  you  think  fit  to  entertain  him  as  a  missionary.  I  take  it  to  be  a 
very  charitable  and  necessary  work  if  it  can  be  allowed,  but  it  is  not  fit  he 
should  make  so  great  a  journey  up  unless  he  had  some  hopes  given  him  upon 
his  answering  your  expectations  to  be  sent  abroad.  Mr.  Evans  is  better  able 
to  lay  before  you  his  own  case  than  I  can  do  it,  &  therefore  considering  his 
great  and  successful  pains  for  so  small  a  salary,  I  hope  he  will  be  had  in  con- 
sideration with  the  commissioners  accordingly  in  what  they  think  fitt  by  their 
rules  to  encourage  him,  I  am,  Sir,  &c, 

H.  London. 


M\  NICHOLS  to  the  SECRETARY. 

(EXTRACT.) 

Chester,  July  24th,  1 707. 
Worthy  Sir, 

*  *  *  I  have  no  particular  news  that  is  worth  communicating 

ou  only  we  trudge  and  do  our  best  endeavours  to  fight  Christ's  Battles 


3i  [i7°7- 

« 

against  his  enemies,  I  wish  we  had  not  some  among  ourselves  that  we  are  not 
well  aware  of.  I  wish  I  were  able  to  send  you  an  account  (provided  it  were 
with  truth),  of  as  glorious  a  church  as  the  times  of  the  Apostolick  age  did  pro- 
duce. But  as  you  know,  Sir,  better  than  I,  that  the  church  has  ever  had  its 
interruptions,  so  I  do  not  doubt  but  that  our  Honble  Patrons  will  not  be  dis- 
heartened nor  be  apt  to  despair  concerning  us,  altho'  we  cannot  carry  all 
things  before  us  with  career.  The  truth  is,  as  long  as  our  adversaries  have 
the  whole  Interest,  power  and  wealth  of  the  country  in  their  hands,  &  as  long 
as  animosities,  ambition  &  confederacys  do  prevail  among  some  of  our  own 
members,  as  much  as  they  do,  it  will  be  a  great  matter  for  us  to  keep  the  foot- 
ing we  have  got. 

My  poor  brother  Evans  being  in  England  has  spared  me  the  trouble  of 
explaining  myself,  nor  truly,  Sir,  do  I  love  to  engage  my  self  in  any  quarrel 
nor  to  make  any  complaints  'till  I  am  upon  my  defence  tho'  some  are  pleased 
to  suggest  that  I  have  ;  whilst  I  am  innocent  &  do  my  duty  &  trust  in  so  gra- 
cious a  God,  truly  I  do  not  fear  what  the  malice  &  subtilty  of  the  Devil  or  Man 
worketh  against  me,  and  however  prevalent  along  the  continent  differences 
are  betwixt  the  pastor  &  the  people,  yet,  sir  (I  do  sincerely  protest  with 
a  good  conscience  that),  I  do  not  know  one  of  my  brethren  sent  by  your 
Honble  Body  but  that  for  his  piety  &  learning  deserves  to  be  well  esteemed, 
especially  my  Revd  Brother,  Mr.  Moore,  in  Burlington,  whose  cause,  I  dare 
say,  is  the  hardest  if  it  were  truly  known  that  ever  was  represented,  the  Govr 
being  most  inveterately,  as  also  I  am  sure  unjustly  exasperated  against  him. 

I  have  two  things  heartily  to  request  of  the  Honble  Society  that  in  their 
great  wisdom  and  tenderness  to  their  poor  missionaries  they  would  seek  out 
some  way  to  make  our  Labours  easier  to  us,  or  else  if  that  be  not  practicable 
that  they  would  suspend  their  belief  to  all  representations  that  designing  and 
peevish  men  may  make  concerning  us,  otherwise  of  all  people  in  the  world 
never  were  men  such  slaves  as  the  American  ministers,  none  more  exposed  to 
ruin  after  all  their  fatigue  and  danger  than  they  are.  I  bless  God  I  enjoy  my 
health  very  well,  &  I  can  be  well  contented  with  my  station  for  I  did  expect 
many  troubles  from  the  first  time  that  ever  I  thought  on  this  work  but  none  of 
that  nature  which  I  met  withal.         *         *         * 


1707.]  32 

The  State  of  the  Church  in  Pensylvania,  most  humbly  offered 
to  ye  Venerable  Society  for  the  Propagatio?i  of  the  Gospel 
in   Foreign   Parts. 


As  it  was  my  zeal  for  God's  Glory,  and  ye  Earnest  Desire  I  had  of  Propa- 
gateing  the  Gospell  in  foreign  parts  ;  That  were  the  great  motives,  that 
engaged  me  in  this  mission  ;  Soe  God  has  been  graciously  pleased  to  bless  my 
honest  Endeavours  and  Labours  this  way  with  a  Suitable  Success  in  ye  Church 
of  Philadelphia,  in'  Pensylvania ;  and  as  if  this  had  been  ye  Philadelphia  men- 
tioned in  the  Revelations  ;  God  has  out  of  ye  abundance  of  His  Goodness 
hitherto  verified  that  Promise  made  to  it,  Rev.  3  :  8.  Behold  I  have  set  before 
thee  an  Open  Door,  and  no  man  can  shut  it.  For  from  a  very  weake  and 
Infant  State,  it  is  now  Exceedingly  Increased  and  Strengthened  by  those  num- 
bers that  have  been  gained  over  to  it;  and  from  hence  the  marvelous  Light  of 
ye  Gospell  has  been  spread  and  Diffused  not  only  unto  the  adjacent  Churches, 
But  also  to  some  of  the  neighbouring  Provinces. 

And  that  Church,  which  first  seemed  to  be  but  a  private  Conventicle  is 
is  now  become  truely  the  Catholick  Church  of  those  parts. 

But  tho'  God  has  thus  prospered  the  affairs  of  His  Church  in  Pensylvania, 
Yet  I  am  far  from  Arrogating  any  thing  to  my  selfe  on  the  account  of  my  per- 
formance ;  For  I  Glory  not  in  any  thing,  but  in  the  Lord;  nor  can  it  well  be 
possible,  that  so  Good  a  Cause  should  miscarry,  when  it  is  promoted  &  Coun- 
tenanced by  a  Sett  of  such  Extraordinary  men,  as  ye  Venerable  Corporation 
for  propagateing  ye  Gospell  in  Foreign  Parts  Consists  of;  and  here  I  must 
humbly  crave  leave  to  make  the  most  sincere  and  gratefull  acknowledgmts  to 
the  Venerable  Society  both  in  Behalf  of  my  selfe,  and  my  Congregation,  for 
the  Expence  it  has  been  at  in  paying  for  Her  maties  Grant  of  50  £  per  annum 
to  the  Church  of  Philadelphia,  &  30  £  to  ye  Schoole  :  Nor  must  I  omitt 
among  the  Number  of  our  Benefactors,  The  Noble  and  Generous  Col1  Nich- 
olson, who  has  by  his  large  Contributions,  &  other  Remarkable  Instances  of 
his  Zeal  for  the  Glory  of  God  and  Good  of  Souls,  shown  of  what  Advantage 
to  Religion  ye  Influence  and  Example  of  One  good  man  is. 

But  because  a  more  minute  &  particular  acco1  of  the  Churche's  Affaire's 


33  [1707. 

in  Pensylvania,  &  some  of  ye  adjacent  Provinces  may  in  some  Respects  be 
usefull  as  well  as  Satisfactory  to  the  venerable  Society ;  I  will  here  lay  before 
it,  all  that  occurs  to  my  memory  at  this  Distance  ;  and  will  show  by  what 
Steps,  and  methods  the  Church  in  Philadelphia  and  the  Adjacent  Parts  came 
to  be  formed  and  Establish't  as  It  now  is. 

To  proceed  therefore,  I  was  sent  over  missionarie  in  the  year  1 700,  By  the 
Right  Honble  &  Right  Revd  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  to  Philadelphia  in  the 
Province  of  Pensylvania,  where  I  preached  ye  Gospell  and  Administred  the 
Ordinances  of  Christ  with  Equall  Comfort  to  my  selfe,  as  well  as  Advantage 
to  others :  and  God  was  in  a  little  Time  pleased  to  prosper  my  Labours  to 
that  Degree,  as  that  I  had  in  less  than  three  years  after  my  Arrivall  a  very 
numerous  Congregation  Consisting  for  the  most  part  of  persons  brought  over 
from  the  Quakers  and  other  Sectaries  to  the  Church  of  England  ;  and  the 
true  Religion  (by  the  Frequent  Resort  of  Persons  from  Remote  Parts  to 
Philadelphia),  did  soe  spread,  and  the  number  of  Converts  did  increase  so 
fast,  that  I  was  obliged  to  divide  my  selfe  among  them  as  often  and  as  Equally 
as  I  cou'd,  till  they  were  Formed  into  proper  Districts,  &  had  Ministers  sent 
over  to  them  by  the  Venerable  Society. 

For  this  Reason  I  went  frequently  to  Chichester,  which  is  25,  Chester  or 
Upland  20,  Maidenhead  40  (where  I  baptized  19  Children  at  one  time),  Con- 
cord 20,  Evesham,  in  West  Jersey,  15,  Montgomery  20,  and  Radnor  15  miles 
distant  from  Philadelphia  ;  All  which,  tho'  Equally  Fatigueing,  and  Expensive 
I  frequently  went  to,  &  preached  in,  being  by  all  meanes  determined,  to  lose 
none  of  those,  whom  I  had  gain'd,  but  rather  add  to  them  till  the  Society 
otherwise  Provided  for  them. 

But  Montgomery  and  Radnor  next  to  my  owne  beloved  Philadelphia  had 
the  most  considerable  share  in  my  Labours,  where  I  Preached  in  Welch  once 
a  fortnight  for  4  years,  till  the  Arrivall  of  Mr.  Nichols  Minister  of  Chester  in 
1 704,  about  which  time  also  the  Revd  Mr.  John  Thomas  my  late  Assistant  came 
for  England  ;  by  this  Gent'5  Departure  the  Service  of  ye  Church  of  Philadel- 
phia intirely  devolved  upon  my  selfe  in  all  its  Parts  ;  so  that  I  was  obliged  to 
an  uncommon  Application,  &  Labour  in  the  Supply  of  my  Cure  in  all  its 
Branches. 

While  Mr.  Thomas  continued  in  Philadelphia,  we  had  an  Evening  Lecture 
twice  every  month,  one  Preparatory  to  the  Holy  Sacrament  the  last  Sunday 
of  the  month  ;  The  other  to  a  Society  of  young  men,  yl  met  togeather  every 


17Q7-]  34 

Lord's  day  after  Evening  Prayer  to  read  ye  Scripture  and  Sing  Psalms,  and  I 
being  allwaies  present  at  those  meetings,  unless  hindered  by  the  Publiq  ser- 
vice of  the  Church,  Or  by  visiting  Persons  in  Violent  sickness,  or  calamitous 
Circumstances,  Read  some  select  Prayers  out  of  the  Publiq  Liturgie  of  the 
Church,  allwaies  begining  with  this  Collect:  Prevent  us,  O  Lord,  in  all  our 
doeings,  &c,  and  Concludeing  with  ye  Benediction,  Carried  them  with  me  to 
the  Church,  where  Mr.  Thomas  read,  and  I  preach't  upon  Subjects,  suitable 
to  the  Occasion,  particularly  I  insisted  upon  those  Texts:  Rejoyce  O  Young 
Man,  &c. :  Wherewthall  shall  a  young  man  cleanse,  &c. ;  and  we  Discover'd  a 
visible  Benefitt  from  Our  evening  Lectures;  For  those  Quakers,  that  Durst 
not  appear  in  the  day  at  the  Publiq  Service  of  the  Church,  for  fear  of  diso- 
bligeing  their  Parents  or  Masters  would  stand  under  the  Church  windows  att 
night,  till  many  of  them  pluck't  up  so  much  Courage,  as  to  come  to  ye  Church 
it  selfe,  and  at  last  by  the  blessing  of  God  upon  ye  word  preached,  Submitted 
to  the  Holy  Ordinance  of  Baptizm,  &  continue  Stedfast  in  the  Communion  of 
the  Church  of  England.  And  here,  after  what  I  have  said  Concerning  the 
Benefitt  of  those  monthly  Evening  Lectures,  and  the  Number  of  Converts, 
and  the  Extent  of  my  District,  and  the  great  work  that  in  all  Respects  lies  on 
my  hands ;  It  might  be  Expected  that  I  shou'd  say  something  concerning  ye 
necessity  and  usefullness  of  an  Assistant  to  me  in  the  Discharge  of  my  Duty; 
But  when  I  Consider  the  Dangers  that  may  arise  from  haveing  two  Ministers 
in  one  Church,  especially  where  there  is  not  a  Bp  where  both  parties  may 
speedily  resort,  &  be  concluded  by,  and  how  apt  some  young  missionaries  are 
to  run  into  Factions,  and  to  Vye  wth  those,  to  whom  they  shou'd  on  all  accots, 
Pay  a  just  Regard  &  Deference  of  wch  there  has  been  a  late  unhappy  Instance 
in  those  parts. 

I  cannot  bring  my  selfe  to  entertaine  a  thought  of  this  kind,  till  a  Bishop  or 
at  least  a  Suffragan  be  established  or  settled  in  those  parts  ;  For  the  Peace 
and  Unity  of  any  Church  is  too  Vallueable  a  blessing  to  be  easily  or 
slightly  parted  with ;  and  if  Divisions  of  this  kind  shou'd  happen  (which 
may  easily  Enough  fall  out  in  a  Church,  where  all  its  ministers  are  yet  upon  a 
Levell,  &  not  the  least  Show  or  Shadow  of  Authority  to  Restrain  or  keep 
them  wthin  Bounds),  how  inconsiderable  wou'd  all  those  other  advantages  be, 
that  may  be  reaped  from  an  Assistant ;  tho'  he  preach't  and  acquitted  himselfe 
like  an  Angell  in  all  the  other  parts  of  his  Function. 

As  for  the  number  of  Adult  persons  and  Children,  that  I  Baptized  during 


35  [1707. 

my  Mission,  I  take  'em  by  a  modest  Computation,  to  amount  to  750  Or  rather 
800  in  Philadelphia  and  all  the  forenamed  places. 

The  Welch  at  Radnor  and  Merioneth  in  the  Province  of  Pensylvania  have 
addressed  my  Lord  of  London  (having  a  hundred  hands  to  their  Petition),  for 
a  minister  to  be  settled  amongst  them,  that  understands  the  Brittish  Language, 
there  being  many  ancient  People  among  those  Inhabitants,  that  doe  not  under- 
stand the  English,  and  cou'd  a  Sober  and  discreet  person  be  procured  to 
undertake  that  mission,  He  might  be  capable  by  the  blessing  of  God  to  bring 
in  a  Plentifull  Harvest  of  Welch  Quakers,  that  were  Originally  bred  in  the 
Church  of  England,  but  were  unhappily  perverted,  before  any  minister  in 
Holy  Orders,  that  cou'd  preach  to  'em  in  their  own  Language,  was  sent  into 
Pensylvania,  But  I  believe  they  are  not  irrecoverable,  had  they  an  Itinerant 
Missionary,  who  wou'd  use  applicacion  &  diligence  to  reduce  'em  to  ye  Com- 
munion of  the  Church. 

There  is  another  Welch  settleim  called  Montgomery  in  the  County  of  Phil- 
adelphia, 20  miles  distant  from  the  City ;  where  are  considerable  numbers  of 
Welch  People,  Formerly  in  their  native  Country  of  the  Communion  of  the 
Church  of  England,  but  about  the  year  1698  two  years  before  my  arrivall  in 
yl  Countrey  most  of  them  joyned  with  the  Quakers,  but  by  God's  blessing  some 
of  'em  were  Reduced,  and  I  have  baptized  their  Children  and  preached  often 
to  'em,  especially  while  my  late  Assistant  Mr.  Thomas  continued  wth  me  ;  I 
visited  them  since  &  prevailed  upon  them  to  meet  every  Lord's  day  abl  40  in 
number,  where  One  that  can  understand  the  Language  well,  &  is  a  sober  dis- 
creet man,  reads  the  Prayers  of  the  Church  every  Lord's  day,  ye  proper 
Psalms  and  Lessons,  omitting  only  the  Absolution,  and  what  properly  belongs 
to  the  Priest's  Office,  &  then  Reads  some  Portion,  in  A  Booke  of  Devotion  to 
the  People ;  I  mett  with  Severall  good  Bookes  translated  into  the  Welch  Lan- 
guage among  my  Countrey  People,  particularly  the  whole  Duty  of  man  in 
Welch,  &  ye  Practice  of  Piety,  as  for  the  Christian  Monitor ;  Dorrington's 
Familiar  Guide  to  the  Lord's  Supper,  the  Advice  of  A  Minister  to  his  Parish- 
ioners, all  in  Welch,  wl  I  received,  were  Faithfully  Dispersed,  but  were  so  few, 
y'  a  greater  number  is  stil  wanting. 

There  is  A  Welch  Settlem1  Betweene  Appoquinimy  and  New  Castle,  to 
wch  the  Revd  Mr.  George  Ross  has  preach'd  frequently  in  the  English  Tongue, 
since  his  arrivall,  but  that  Gent8  not  understanding  their  native  Language  is 
not  so  Capable  to  answere  the  End,  as  the  Reverend  Mr.  Jenkins  would  be, 


1707.]  36 

who  is  goeing  Missionary  to  Appoquiminy,  who  has  a  Competent  knowledge 
in  ye  Welch  tongue  ;  and  if  ye  most  honble  Society  wou'd  be  pleas'd  to  give  it 
him  in  charge  to  visit  those  people  as  oft  as  may  be,  It  would  be  a  meanes  by 
God's  help  to  keep  those  in  ye  Communion  of  the  Church,  that  are  allready 
Joyned  wth  it,  and  to  Reduce  others  that  have  been  seduced. 

There  is  a  large  and  fair  structure,  built  for  Divine  Worship,  att  New  Cas- 
tle, 40  miles  from  Philadelphia,  finished  within  and  without,  where  I  preach't 
the  Begining  of  December  last  and  found  a  considerable  Congregation,  con- 
sidering ye  Generality  of  the  People  was  gained  over  from  other  Persuasions, 
their  Minister  the  Revd  Mr.  George  Ross  is  esteemed  a  Person  that  is  Ingenious 
&  well  learned  as  well  as  sober  &  Prudent,  and  I  doubt  not  but  by  the  bless- 
ing of  God  upon  his  good  endeavours,  the  Church  of  Newcastle  will  continue 
to  encrease. 

In  Chester,  20  miles  from  Philadelphia,  upon  Delaware  River,  they  have  a 
Good  Church  built  wth  Brick,  finished;  where  Mr.  Henry  Nichols  is  minister. 
I  preach't  the  middle  of  December  last  in  that  Church,  to  a  congregation  con- 
sisting of  about  150,  But  when  I  preach't  the  summer  before,  I  found  a  more 
numerous  congregation,  Our  winters  being  very  severe  in  those  parts, 
detaines  many  from  Church,  whose  Plantations  lie  at  a  Distance,  and  for  that 
Reason  Mr.  Nichols  preaches  sometimes  at  Concord  in  the  weeke  Daies. 

Trinity  Church  in  Oxford  Towneship  lies  in  the  County  of  Philadelphia  9 
miles  from  ye  City,  where  for  ye  4  first  years,  after  my  arrivall  in  Philadelphia 
I  frequently  preached  &  administred  both  the  sacramts,  &  had  when  I 
preached  last  in  it  about  140  people, — most  of  the  People  brought  over  to  the 
Church  of  England  from  Quakers,  Anabaptists,  and  other  persuasions. 

I  should  now  put  an  End  to  my  memoriall,  were  it  not  yl  ye  want  of  a  Bp 
amongst  us  cannot  be  past  over  in  Silence ;  'tis  a  Dismall  thing  to  Consider 
how  much  the  want  of  one  has  retarded  ye  Progress  of  the  true  Religion  in 
America. 

The  Spaniards  were  in  the  begining  of  their  settlemts  in  these  Indies  sensi- 
ble of  these  Disadvantages  ;  and  therefore  they  wisely  remedied  any  Incon- 
veniencies  that  might  happen  on  this  score,  by  Erecting  Severall  Bishopricks  in 
their  Dominions  in  yl  part  of  the  world ;  and  why  we  shou'd  not  Coppy  after 
them,  especially  in  soe  usefull  &  necessary  a  point,  I  doe  not  understand  ? 
Since  wl  is  good  for  them  in  this  Respect  cannot  be  bad  for  us.  Fas  est  et  ab 
hoste  docen   It  can  be  noe  shame  for  us  to  imitate  their  Prudence  &  Conduct 


37  [1707. 

&  on  this  Occasion,  &  tho'  we  had  no  such  instance  or  Example  to  direct  or 
Influence  in  an  affair  of  this  kind,  yet  the  Evident  Necessity  of  ye  thing  it  selfe 
loudly  calls  for  Supply  and  Reliefe. 

I  will  only  mention  a  few  things  wch  points  at  this  Defect,  and  then  the 
Venerable  Society  will  judge  whether  ye  English  Americans  have  not  Reason 
to  press  for  and  Demand  the  Constant  Residence  of  a  Mitred  head  among 
them. 

I  take  it  for  granted,  that  the  Ends  of  the  Mission  can  never  be  rightly 
answered  without  Establishing  the  Discipline,  as  well  as  the  Doctrine  of  the 
Church  of  England  in  those  parts  ;  For  ye  One  is  a  Fortress  and  Bullwark  of 
Defence  to  the  other,  and  once  the  Outworks  of  Religion  come  to  be  slighted 
and  dismantled,  it  is  easy  to  foresee  wthout  ye  spirit  of  Prophecy  w'  ye  Conse- 
quence will  be. 

Ist  As  to  a  Ready  &  constant  Supply  of  Ministers  or  Missionaries  (wch  is 
of  ye  last  consequence  to  the  well  Being  of  the  American  Churches),  this  can 
never  be  hoped  for  wthout  a  Resident  Bishop  among  'em  to  whom  upon  ye 
Death  or  notorious  &  scandalous  immorality  of  any  Clergy  man,  Applica- 
tion may  in  a  little  time  be  made,  &  the  wants  of  each  Cure  may  be  supplied 
by  his  Ordaining  such  persons  as  shall  be  found  capable  of  Labouring  in 
God's  Vineyard ;  Such  I  presume  a  Resident  Bishop  wou'd  seldome  or  never 
want  there.  For  to  Establish  a  Bishoprick  wou'd  be  in  Effect  ye  Establishing 
a  colledge  in  those  Parts,  Or  at  least  it  would  draw  many  of  our  young  Stu- 
dents thither  from  Great  Brittain  &  Ireland  in  hopes  both  of  Ordination  and 
Preferment ;  whereas  by  sending  to  Great  Brittaine,  a  vast  Deal  of  time  is 
lost ;  Nor  can  the  true  State  of  Ecclesiasticall  things  or  Persons  be  Ever  so 
well  known,  as  by  A  Bishop,  who  lives  upon  ye  Spott,  and  who  consequently 
can  best  see  into  all  the  Secrett  Causes,  and  Springs  of  things. 

2ly.  A  Bishop  is  absolutely  necessary  to  Preside  over  the  American  Clergy, 
and  to  oblige  them  to  doe  their  Duty,  and  to  live  in  Peace  and  Unity,  One  with 
Another. 

The  Missionaries  of  America  are  like  other  men,  &  they  may  sometimes 
fall  Out  and  Differ  among  themselves,  and  give  great  Offence  thro'  their 
unnecessary  Heats  and  Animosities  to  the  People. 

The  Contention  between  Paul  and  Barnabas  was  soe  sharp,  and  grew  so 
high,  that  they  fell  out,  and  parted  upon  it,  and  can  wee  thinke  that  the  Amer- 
ican Missionaries  are  better  armed,  or  less  Exposed  to  Accidents  of  this  kind 
than  those  two  great  and  holy  men  were. 


1707.]  38 

And  if  this  should  be  the  Case  of  English  Missionaries ;  as  it  has  some- 
times been,  How  fatall  must  ye  Consequences  of  such  an  unhappy  Strife  and 
Contention  be  where  there  is  no  Superiour  to  Controul  them,  or  to  take  a 
Cognizance  of  any  affair  of  this  kind,  into  his  hands ;  Religion  in  this  Case 
must  bleed,  and  fall  a  victim  to  the  Factions  &  unruly  Humours  of  a  few  Tur- 
bulent and  indiscreet  persons,  nor  indeed  humanly  Speaking,  Is  it  possible  it 
shou'd  be  otherwise ;  When  there  was  no  King  in  Israeli,  the  Children  of 
Israeli  did  that  which  was  Right  in  their  own  Eyes,  and  can  it  be  Expected, 
that  it  will  be  otherwise  with  the  Clergy  of  America,  where  there  is  no  Bishop 
to  put  a  stop  to  their  Career,  or  to  keep  'em  within  those  bounds  of  Decency, 
Respect,  and  mutuall  forbearance ;  which  they  so  much  owe  to  One  another ; 
wheresoever  Presbytery  is  established  there  they  have  the  face  and  Appear- 
ance of  an  Ecclesiasticall  Jurisdiction,  and  Authority,  after  their  way,  to  Resort 
to,  upon  All  Occasions. 

But  our  Clergy  in  America  are  left  naked,  and  destitute  of  any  Advantage 
of  this  kind,  and  are  exposed  to  the  mercy  and  Conduct  of  their  Own,  Very 
often  unreasonable  Passions  and  Appetites,  which  are  by  many  Degrees  the 
worst  Masters  they  can  truckle  under. 

I  will  only  in  the  third  place  mention  ye  Disadvantages,  the  Laity  lie  under, 
for  want  of  A  Bishop,  and  put  an  End  to  this  tedious  Memoriall. 

The  Ministers  subsistance,  and  Livelyhood,  being  in  all  places,  in  America, 
more  or  less  depending  upon  the  Bounty  of  the  People,  by  Contributions,  & 
Acts  of  Assembly :  It  is  a  difficult  matter  for  them  without  the  Countenance 
and  Authority  of  a  Bishop,  to  put  a  stop  to  ye  Prophaness  and  Immorality  of 
their  severall  parishioners,  for  to  touch  the  more  Topping,  and  Considerable 
men  of  them,  either  in  Publique  or  Private  is  to  draw  the  fury  of  the  whole 
Congregation  upon  the  Missionary,  and  to  deprive  himselfe  of  that  Salary,  or 
maintenance  which  he  has  from  them. 

It  were  to  be  wish'd  that  the  Clergy's  Sallarys,  &  maintenance  in  America 
were  settled  and  adjusted  by  Act  of  Parliament  in  Great  Brittaine,  and  then 
they  would  be  the  more  bold  and  Resolute  in  Doeing  their  Duty,  But  as  bad 
as  things  are  in  this  Respect,  yet  a  Bishop  wou'd  to  a  great  Degree  Remedy 
all  Inconveniencies  of  this  kind  ;  for  if  the  missionarie  either  could  not,  or 
Durst  not  doe  his  Duty,  then  the  Bishop  wou'd,  and  the  Layty  would  be  in  a 
little  time  brought,  to  pay  a  greater  Regard  to  their  spirituall  Guides,  and  then 
they  would  by  Degrees,  submit  to  Church  Discipline,  and  Censures,  without 


39  [1707. 

which,  tho'  a  church  may  be  planted,  and  gathered,  yet  it  can  never  be  of  any 
long  Growth  or  Continuance. 

But  now  Nothing  of  that  kind  is  heard  of  or  attempted  there  and  men 
Committ  Adultery,  and  Polygamy,  Incest,  and  A  Thousand  other  Crimes,  of 
which  the  Minister  can  hardly  admonish  them  in  Private,  without  manifest 
hazard  and  Disadvantage  to  himselfe,  because  there  is  no  Ecclesiasticall  Juris- 
diction established  in  those  parts,  and  tho'  there  were,  there  are  no  Laws,  in 
being,  which  makes  the  Inhabitants  of  those  Countreys  lyable,  and  Obnox- 
ious to  it. 

Noe  Statute  of  the:  23  :  of  H  :  the:  8  :  no  writt  de  Excommunicato  Cap- 
iendo to  oblige  spirituall  Delinquents  to  Submitt  to  the  Censures  of  the 
Church,  for  the  Good  of  their  own  Souls. 

Add  to  this  that  the  want  of  a  Bishop  to  Confirm  in  those  parts  is  a  great 
Trouble,  to  the  American  Clergy,  for  they  are  bound  by  the  Rubrick  not  to 
administer  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  but  to  such  as  are  Confirmed; 
which  Prohibition  notwithstanding  they  are  forced  to  break  thro',  in  this  Case 
of  Necessity ;  many  other  Reasons  may  be  assigned  for  the  Erecting  a  Bish- 
oprick  in  the  British  America. 

But  I  am  afraid  I  have  trespassed  allready  too  much  on  the  Venerable 
Societie's  Patience,  nor  should  I  have  presumed  to  have  mencioned  any  thing 
of  this  Kind ;  But  that  ye  Necessities  of  the  Church  in  foreign  parts  are  so 
pressing,  that  it  was  not  possible  for  me  to  avoid  giveing  this  short  Hint 
(which  I  doe  with  the  most  profound  Humility  and  Submission)  without  incur- 
ring the  Sin  of  Concealeing,  that,  which  I  know  to  be  Necessary  to  the  Good 
of  the  Church,  and  so  agreeable  to  the  Desires  of  all  the  Poor  Clergymen,  and 
Protestants  of  America,  as  easily  appeares  by  severall  addresses,  which  have 
been  made  on  this  account ;  But  as  for  the  way,  or  method  of  Erecting  a 
Bishoprick  in  those  parts,  The  Venerable  Society  is  the  best  Judge  of  that,  to 
whose  most  pious  and  prudent  Care  and  Conduct  I  humbly  submitt,  and  leave 
it ;  and  Doe  most  Earnestly  beseech  God  to  bless  and  Preserve  this  Venera- 
ble Society  in  all  its  Religious  and  Charitable  Undertakings. 

I  have  been  concerned  in  this  Mission  above  7  years,  &  doe  meane  by 
God's  Grace  to  spend  more  of  my  time,  &  paines,  in  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gospell  in  those  parts. 

London,  18  7bris,  1707. 

EVAN  EVANS. 


1 708.]  40 

Col.  QUARRY  to  the  Secretary. 

Pensylvania,  Feby  12th,  170^. 
Honoured  Sir, 

I  am  favoured  with  yours  of  the  Ist  July,  which  lay  at  my  house  a  consid- 
erable time  before  it  came  to  my  hands,  by  reason  of  my  long  absence  then 
from  home,  in  visiting  all  the  northern  Governments.  My  journey  thro'  all 
those  provinces  gave  me  the  advantage  of  viewing  and  knowing  the  true  state 
and  circumstances  of  the  several  Churches,  all  which  I  have  by  this  convey- 
ance justly  represented  to  the  Right  Honble  &  Right  Reverend  my  Lord  of 
London,  to  which  I  am  forced  to  refer  you,  being  so  hurried  that  I  have  not 
time  to  finish  my  dispatches  by  this  convoy,  otherwise  you  should  have  had 
my  observations  &  remarks  at  large,  and  in  particular  the  history  of  those 
two  Gentlemen  Mr.  Moore  and  Mr.  Brooks,  who  are  lately  gone  to  Great 
Britain  full  of  complaints  against  his  Excellency  my  Lord  Cornbury,  but  I  am 
very  well  assured  that  both  you,  worthy  Sir,  &  the  Honble  Society  will  give 
my  Lord  leave  to  speak  for  himself,  and  then  you  will  find  those  Gentlemen's 
conduct  hath  not  been  with  that  prudence  and  judgment  as  becomes  men  of 
their  profession.  The  history  is  too  long  to  give  you  at  present,  but  may  be 
summed  up  in  few  words.  These  two  Gentlemen  have  joyned  with  a  faction 
of  men  that  are  not  only  Enemies  to  my  Lord  Cornbury,  but  to  the  Queen's 
interest  and  prerogative,  and  who  do  to  the  utmost  of  their  power  endeavour 
to  overset  her  Majesty's  Government  in  these  parts,  and  besides  the  greatest 
number  of  these  men  are  known  enemies  to  the  Church.  I  have  Charity  to 
believe  that  Mr.  Moore  and  Mr.  Brooke  have  been  unwarily  betrayed  into  this 
mistake.  I  have  always  had  a  very  great  respect  for  them,  and  should  be 
very  cautious  of  saying  anything  to  their  disadvantage  ;  but  their  actings  have 
been  so  very  unaccountable  and  makes  so  great  a  noise,  that  I  am  forced  to 
say  what  I  have,  and  must  refer  to  the  large  account  of  these  affairs  which  I 
have  sent  to  my  good  Lord  of  London.  I  am  obliged,  worthy  Sir,  to  acquaint 
you  that  there  ought  to  be  very  great  caution  given  to  the  Clergy  sent  to 
these  parts,  that  they  do  not  ingage  or  concern  themselves  in  the  disputes, 
differences  or  factions  which  often  happens  in  the  several  Governments.  This 
is  the  rock  that  many  of  our  Clergy  have   split  on,  and  is  the  case  of  these 


41  [1708. 

two  Gentlemen.  I  could  give  some  other  instances  if  I  thought  it  proper 
or  had  time.  The  very  first  original  of  all  our  unhappiness  in  relation  to  the 
Church  and  Clergy  in  these  parts,  is  purely  owing  to  a  general  Meeting  of  all 
the  Clergy  in  the  northern  provinces,  which  I  am  sure  was  quite  contrary  to 
the  Honest,  charitable  and  generous  design  of  that  worthy  Gentleman,  Col. 
Nicholson,  who  advanced  the  money  out  of  his  own  pocket  to  defray  all  the 
charges  of  that  unhappy  Meeting.  His  design  was  that  they  should  consult 
and  agree  on  matters  for  the  benefit  &  good  of  the  Church  in  general,  but  it 
proved  the  very  reverse  of  all  this,  for  what  they  did  will  appear  to  the  honble 
Society  to  be  very  imprudent  and  injurious  to  the  interest  of  the  Church,  I 
presume.  Tho'  they  laid  themselves  under  an  oath  of  secrecy,  yet  I  suppose 
they  did  not  intend  to  make  it  a  secret  to  you,  and  notwithstanding  their  being 
under  an  obligation  of  a  sacred  oath  yet  some  of  them  have  dispensed  with 
it  and  discovered  what  was  done.  I  will  at  present  only  instance  one  of  their 
decrees  and  orders :  they  voted  the  laying  aside  all  Vestrys  as  useless,  they 
being  able  to  govern  &  manage  the  Churches  themselves  without  any  other 
help  ;  but  I  believe  they  forgot  how  they  should  be  subsisted  hereafter  without 
the  help  of  those  useless  things,  the  Vestry,  who  are  the  chief  men  of  every 
government,  men  of  the  best  Estates,  best  sense,  true  sons  of  the  Church, 
most  zealous  and  hearty  in  promoting  the  interest  and  good  of  it,  men  of  the 
best  interest  to  defend  it  in  procuring  Laws  for  its  support  &  subsistence,  & 
yet  these  men  must  be  all  laid  aside  &  blown  off  at  once,  that  these  young 
gentlemen  of  the  Clergy  may  be  absolute  &  govern  as  they  please,  without 
the  least  controul.  I  am  sure  that  this  rash  act  of  theirs  hath  given  as  fatal  a 
blow  to  the  Church  in  these  parts  as  was  in  their  power  to  have  done.  Some 
of  these  Gentlemen  have  already  found  the  ill  effects  of  it,  &  have  heartily 
repented  their  folly.  Some  others  have  persisted  in  their  immaginary  grandeur 
till  their  full  Churches  are  grown  empty  almost,  and  nothing  but  confusion 
amongst  those  that  are  left.  I  do  assure  you,  Sir,  I  tell  you  this  truth  with  much 
grief  &  concern,  but  it  is  what  I  have  been  an  eye  witness  of  in  several  places 
where  my  duty  calls  me.  To  hear  the  people  complain  of  their  Minister,  and 
he  complaining  of  them,  even  in  those  places  where  not  long  since  the  strife 
was  who  should  out  do  each  other  in  all  sorts  of  kindness,  love  &  charity. 
The  Minister  could  no  sooner  propose  or  mention  a  conveniency  or  want,  but 
immediately  the  Vestry  met  and  supplyed  it,  and  every  man  thought  himself 
happy  that  could  enjoy  most  of  the  Minister's  conversation   at  their  houses. 


1709].  42 

This  melancholy  account  hath  carried  me  beyond  what  I  designed,  but  before 
I  conclude  I  beg  leave  to  propose  my  thoughts  for  a  remedy  of  all  these  evils 
which  in  a  word  is  the  sending  a  Bishop  to  govern  the  Church  in  America. 
Nothing  else  will  do,  for  every  young  Clergyman  thinks  he  knows  more  than 
the  Rl  Revd  the  Bishops,  &  do  assume  more  power  to  themselves.  I  will  now 
proceed  to  answer  you  about  the  Bibles  &  Common  Prayer  Books,  proposed 
to  be  sent  into  these  parts.  I  believe  they  are  much  wanted  in  most  places, 
&  would  be  very  acceptable  on  the  terms  proposed,  &  be  of  great  service  in 
promoting  the  interest  of  the  Church  &  religion  as  is  designed,  but  am  not 
willing  to  give  my  opinion  &  judgement  fully  till  I  have  consulted  with  Colonel 
Heathcote,  which  I  purpose  to  do  very  suddenly,  and  then  yours  shall  have  a 
Compleat  answer  to  all  particulars  from  him  and, 

Worthy  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  Servant, 

ROBERT  QUARRY. 


TRINITY  CHURCH  to  the  SOCIETY. 


Trinity  Church,  Oxford,  in  Pensylvania, 
5th  March,  170*. 
May  it  please  your  Lordships  and 

the  rest  of  your  honorable  members, 
We  are  deeply  sensible  of  the  great  mercy  and  love  of  God  to  us,  who  in 
his  providence,  hath  given  to  us,  so  obscure  a  people,  a  Minister  to  take  care 
of  our  Souls,  even  us  who  are  a  people  of  no  note  and  figure  in  the  Country, 
whereas  many  other  places  which  are  much  more  considerable  do  still  want 
that  blessing.  Next  then  to  the  great  and  good  God  to  whom  we  ascribe  all 
Honor  and  thanksgiving,  we  crave  leave  unanimously  to  signify  our  gratitude 
and  respect  to  your  Venerable  Body,  begging  of  God  this  grace  that  we  may 
always  carry  ourselves  with  piety  and  all  virtue,  that  we  may  not  provoke  God 
to  withdraw  his  loving  kindness  from  us  nor  those  Good  men  that  contribute 
so  largely  for  the  good  of  the  Churches  in  these  Countries,  their  favor  and 
bounty. 


43  [i/09- 

For  as  much  then,  May  it  please  your  Lordship,  &c.,  as  since  the  depar- 
ture of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Evans  from  Philadelphia,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Rud- 
man,  who  was  appointed  our  Minister,  did  supply  Mr.  Evans's  place,  and  The 
Revd  Mr.  Clubb,  in  pity  to  our  forlorn  condition,  did  piously  take  upon  him  the 
care  of  our  poor  Church,  for  which  we  cannot  be  sufficiently  thankful  to  him. 

We  think  ourselves  obliged  to  make  a  short  representation  of  the  present 
state  of  our  Church.  Near  three  years  Mr.  Clubb  has  constantly  officiated 
among  us,  and  to  do  him  justice,  without  partiality  or  flattery,  piously  and  dil- 
igently in  every  part  of  his  ministerial  function,  viz1,  in  the  administration  of 
the  sacraments,  preaching,  catechising  our  children,  visiting  our  sick,  &c. 

And  now  being  the  late  Mr.  Rudman  departed  this  life  the  1 7th  of  last  Sep- 
tember (who  declared  his  resolutions  of  leaving  us  and  returning  to  Sweed- 
land  upon  the  arrival  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Evans,  designing  to  end  his  days  in 
his  native  Country),  we  therefore  think  that  it  is  our  interest  and  duty  (and 
indeed  it  is  all  we  can  do),  humbly  to  petition  your  venerable  Body  for  the 
appointing  Mr.  Clubb  to  be  our  minister,  to  whom  we  have  just  reason  to 
pay  a  particular  regard  for  the  demonstration  he  has  given  us  for  his  Zeal  for 
the  Glory  of  God  and  his  concern  for  the  Salvation  of  our  Souls,  in  taking 
upon  him  the  care  of  our  Church  when  we  were  left  destitute,  especially  con- 
sidering that  our  circumstances,  that  he  could  not  promise  to  himself  any 
encouragement,  but  what  your  Venerable  Body  will  be  pleased  to  allow  him. 

And  were  it  proper  for  us  to  recommend  any  person  to  your  favor,  we 
could  say  no  less,  than  that  we  believe  him  worthy  of  your  consideration,  for 
his  said  service  and  diligence  in  this  Church,  adding  many  to  it,  and  recover- 
ing those  that  were  fallen  away  from  it,  and,  in  short,  by  giving  satisfaction  to 
us  all.  We  heartily  beg  he  may  be  continued  to  us,  and  that  your  Lordships 
and  the  rest  of  the  Honourable  members  would  be  pleased  to  grant  him  the 
usual  Salary  to  other  Ministers,  by  reason  it  is  not  in  our  power  to  do  much 
towards  the  support  of  himself  and  family. 

May  God  Almighty  bless  and  prosper  you  in  your  undertakings  is  and 
ever  shall  be  the  prayers  of 

Your  Lordship's,  &c.,  most  humble  Serv13. 


1 709.]  44 

COLONEL  HEATHCOTE  to  the  SECRETARY. 

New  York,  June  3d,  1 709. 
Worthy  Sir, 

This  comes  in  the  Triton  Man  of  War,  and  is  to  acquaint  you  that  I  have 
wrote  you  at  large  in  the  Laytoff,  relating  to  Church  affairs.  I  would  have 
sent  you  Duplicates  thereof  by  this  Ship,  but  have  not  time  to  transcribe 
them,  and  going  by  so  safe  an  opportunity,  am  under  no  doubt  of  coming  safe 
to  your  hands.  I,  however,  thought  it  advisable  to  inform  you  thereof  least 
a  miscarriage  should  happen,  that  the  Society  might  not  blame  my  want  of 
care  in  giving  them  the  best  information  of  things  which  I  could,  a  fault  I  hope 
never  to  be  guilty  of.  I  had  forgot  in  my  last  to  inform  you,  that  I  saw  a 
Letter  from  Mr.  Tho9  Jenkyns  whom  I  am  told  the  Society  sent  to  a  place 
called  Appoquiminy,  but  by  the  earnest  persuasion  of  one  Mr.  Ross,  he  was 
prevailed  upon  to  leave  his  Mission  and  go  to  Chester,  and  before  he  had  set- 
tled himself  there  Mr.  Ross  never  left  tempting  him  further  until  he  prevailed 
with  him  to  make  a  second  removal  to  Newcastle,  but  before  he  made  a 
thorough  conclusion  therein,  as  he  says,  he  consulted  Colonel  Quarry,  he 
advised  him  to  remove,  promising  him  at  the  same  time  to  write  home  and 
justify  his  settling  at  Newcastle,  but  that  to  his  wonderful  surprise,  Colonel 
Quarry,  going  afterwards  through  Appoquiminy  to  Virginia,  encourages  the 
people  to  draw  up  a  severe  representation  against  him,  and  signed  it  himself. 
He  further  adds  that  he  is  very  apprehensive  Mr.  Ross,  who,  by  his  unac- 
countable proceedings,  hath  already  laid  waste  two  churches,  is  now  persecut- 
ing Mr.  Clubb,  Schoolmaster  of  Philadelphia,  and  supplanting  of  him,  which,  if  it 
takes,  would  make  the  now  healing  wounds  of  the  Church  bleed  afresh,  and 
occasion  great  troubles  and  disturbances,  being  of  a  very  turbulent  and  rest- 
less spirit.  I  have  not  the  least  knowledge  of,  or  acquaintance  with  either 
Mr.  Jenkins  or  Mr.  Ross,  nor  can  I  say  anything  concerning  these  matters,  but 
what  I  have  by  information  from  others,  and  though  I  have  very  great  reason 
to  credit  the  authors,  yet  I  desire  the  Society  would  be  pleased  particularly 
to  inform  themselves  concerning  this  matter,  it  being  of  very  great  importance 
to  prevent  the  mischiefs  that  may  arise  from  it.  These  misfortunes,  with  the 
many  others  which  daily  occur,  shew  the  great  want  and   need  of  a  Bishop, 


45  [1709. 

and  until  better  provision  can  be  made,  it  is  advisable  that  a  Commissary  be 
appointed  for  that  province,  and  the  Jerseys,  for  which  nobody  can  be  more 
proper  than  Mr.  Evans,  who  hath  given  such  large  proofs  of  his  great  temper 
and  extraordinary  services  to  the  Church.  By  what  I  can  learn,  Mr.  Jenkyns 
is  a  Gentleman  who  is  clothed  with  a  very  fair  character,  and  he  having  upon 
the  first  notice  of  the  Society's  Orders  immediately  returned  to  his  mission  of 
Appoquiminy,  where  he  now  is ;  I  desire  that  his  fault  may,  for  this  time,  be 
pardoned,  and  he  restored  to  the  Society's  favor ;  I  have  not  further  to 
trouble  you  withal  at  present,  and  so  remain, 

Worthy  Sir, 

Your  most  affec1  humble  Ser\-t, 

CALEB  HEATHCOTE. 

I  am  told  since  writing  this  above  that  Mr.  Ross  is  actually  come  to  Phil- 
adelphia, so  that  I  most  earnestly  beg  of  you  to  move  the  Society  and  Bishop 
of  London  to  take  some  speedy  and  effectual  care  herein  to  prevent  the  mis- 
chievous consequences  hereof. 


M'\  CLUBB  &>  VESTRY  to  the  SECRETARY. 


Oxford,  Pexsylyaxia, 

27th  July,  1709. 
Honored  Sir, 

In  a  Letter  from  the  Reverend  Mr.  Rudman  directed  to  you  and  dated  26th 
August,  a  Copy  whereof  you  were  pleased  to  transmit  to  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Evans,  Minister  of  Philadelphia,  who  conceiving  that  we  were  interested  in  it 
thought  fit  to  communicate  it  to  us,  upon  reading  of  which  we  were  surprized 
at  some  misrepresentations,  Mr.  Rudman  had  therein  made.  Ist  that  he  had 
served  the  Church  at  Oxford  for  three  years,  whereas  he  supplied  that  place 
in  person  but  two  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  undertook  the  cure  of 
Philadelphia  Church  for  Mr.  Evans  and  died  at  Philadelphia  before  Mr.  Evans 
arrived.     From  the  time  of  his  leaving  us  the  present  Minister  (one   of  the 


1 709.]  46 

Subscribers),  at  the  instance  of  Mr.  Rudman,  Mr.  Evans  and  the  congregation, 
entered  upon  the  service  and  has  officiated  in  the  said  cure  now  these  three 
years  and  some  odd  months.  2ndly  Whereas  the  said  Mr.  Rudman  represented 
in  the  said  Letter  that  to  prevent  the  selling  of  the  Glass  bestowed  by  Her 
Majesty  upon  our  Church,  he  paid  Mr.  Michael  ,£5.7  out  of  his  pocket,  we  do 
affirm  that  he  sold  the  Glass  and  also  paid  the  said  sum  of  ,£5.7  without  the 
privity,  consent  or  desire  of  the  church  wardens  or  the  congregation,  who  if 
consulted  would  have  advised  the  reservation  of  it  in  store  for  the  service  of 
the  church  when  enlarged  which  at  present  it  wants,  being  too  small  to  contain 
the  number  of  those  that  frequent  it  and  are  its  members.  We  do  assure  you 
that  application  was  made  since  to  the  congregation  by  Mr.  Rudman  himself 
in  his  life  time,  and  by  his  widow  after  his  decease  for  the  repayment  of  the 
said  sum  of  £$.?  so  that  it  appears  that  he  designed  to  be  no  loser,  though  he 
gave  you  an  account  of  such  a  disbursement  as  his  own  proper  gift  which  we 
humbly  conceive  to  be  the  meaning  of  those  words. — "I  paid  it  out  of  my 
own  pocket."  3rdly  Whereas  Mr.  Rudman  also  asserted  that  his  Salary  allowed 
him  for  serving  Oxford  Church  (viz:  ^30),  would  hardly  afford  him  bread  and 
water  to  his  family,  we  must  own  that  considering  how  exceeding  dear  all 
necessaries  of  life  are  in  this  place  that  his  Salary  at  Oxford  was  far  short  of  a 
competent  maintenance,  though  at  the  same  time  we  do  sincerely  affirm  that 
for  above  two  years  before  the  said  Letter  in  August  last  he  received  from  the 
church  of  Philadelphia  (where  he  served  in  Mr.  Evan's  absence),  ^50  sterling 
^  Annum,  besides  subscriptions  and  perquisites  and  reserved  to  himself  ten 
pounds  out  of  the  Thirty  allowed  him  by  the  Honorable  Society  in  both  those 
two  years  for  the  church  at  Oxford,  so  that  he  could  not  be  in  such  mean  cir- 
cumstances as  he  represents  to  you  by  that  Letter. 
Worthy  Sir, 

We  thought  ourselves  obliged  to  answer  that  Letter  as  far  as  it  relates  to 
us  and  shall  not  presume  to  trespass  upon  your  time  any  longer,  only  beg 
leave  to  subscribe  ourselves, 

Honored  Sir 

Your  most  humbe  &  obliged  Servants, 

JOHN  CLUBB,  Minr  ibm. 

Jn°  Harper, 

Edwd  Eaton,      \-  Church  Wardens. 

Henry  Stirke, 


47  [J709- 

Thos  Groves  the  other  churchwarden  being  not 
at  home  we  could  not  have  him  to  certify  the  truth 
of  this  with  us,  we  desire  there  may  in  this  copy 
be  no  exceptions,  by  the  next  he  promised  to  be 
at  home. 


M\  EVANS  to  the  SECRETARY. 


(EXTRACT. ) 

Philadelphia, 
August  27th,  1709. 
Honored  Sir, 

I  received  yours  of  the  1 5th  February  last  which  came  not  to  hand  till  30th 
June.  This  is  the  first  opportunity,  that  offered  from  this  place  to  acknowl- 
edge the  same,  wherein  the  late  Mr.  Andrew  Rudman's  Letter  was  inclosed, 
the  subject  matter  of  which  was  a  complaint  against  me  relating  to  a  Bill  of 
Exchange  drawn  by  the  said  Mr.  Andrew  Rudman  upon  Mr.  John  Hodges 
wherein  he  represents,  that  by  my  instigation  he  drew  a  Bill  upon  the  Honor- 
able Society  for  £^0  sterling  delivering  it  into  my  hands  {to  use  his  own  words) 
upon  condition  and  promise  that  I  would  deliver  it  to  nobody,  but  the  Treasurer, 
Mr.  Hodges,  if  answered,  well  and  good;  if  not  answered,  then  to  send  it  back 
without  any  further  molestation  or  trouble. 

In  answer  to  which  allegation  I  do  affirm  that  Mr.  Andrew  Rudman  urged 
me  to  accept  of  his  Bill  before  ever  I  made  any  application  to  him  for  it,  for 
when  he  offered  to  draw  a  Bill  of  ^50  I  perfectly  remember,  that  I  told  him 
that  before  he  had  an  account  from  the  Society  that  he  was  received  as 
Missionary  and  that  the  Salary  of  ^50  was  settled  upon  him  that  I  did  not 
think  it  safe  for  him  to  draw  upon  the  Treasurer,  but  however,  if  he  would 
give  Bond  to  indemnify  me,  in  case  the  Bill  were  protested  that  I  would 
purchase  it  of  him,  which  proposal  he  readily  complied  with  as  appears  by  a 
copy  of  the  Bond  sent  you  herewith,  attested  by  the  Honorable  Col1  Charles 
Gookin,  our  Ll.  Governor,  before  whom  it  was  proved,  that  I  did  really  and 
truly  purchase  the  Bill  of  him  the  said  Mr.  Rudman  and  paid  him  for  it  by 


1 709.]  48 

assigning  one  Mr.  William  Hall,  a  practitioner  of  Physick  in  this  place,  to  give 
him  a  Bond  for  the  payment  of  ^50  sterling  which  was  all  paid  by  the  said 
Hall  to  Mr.  Rudman  or  his  order  before  he  wrote  his  last  Letter  into  England 
as  it  will  appear  by  the  Governor's  Letter  who  strictly  examined  the  said 
William  Hall  in  my  presence.  I  do  freely  own  that  Mr.  Rudman  desired  me 
not  to  dispose  of  the  Bill,  but  to  deliver  it  with  my  own  hands  to  the  Treas- 
urer for  fear  it  should  bring  upon  him  the  charge  of  a  protest  and  I  told  him  I 
was  bound  directly  for  London,  and  that  I  did  not  design  to  part  with  any  of 
my  Bills  till  I  arrived  thither,  and  that  I  would  promote  the  payment  of  the 
Bill  as  far  as  it  lay  in  my  power  but  being  taken  ill  at  Virginia  where  I  laboured 
under  an  indisposition  of  body  about  five  months,  I  was  obliged  to  dispose  of 
the  said  Bill  to  one  Mr.  Edward  Jones  bound  for  London,  by  reason  I  could 
not  procure  money  for  any  of  my  other  Bills,  but  that  drawn  on  the  Society. 
I  dare  not  load  the  memory  of  any  one  that  has  already  answered  before  a 
higher  Tribunal,  otherwise  I  am  tempted  to  accuse  one  that  I  hope  is  now  with 
God,  of  great  insincerity,  in  not  telling  the  Honorable  Society  that  I  had  ac- 
tually purchased  the  Bill  and  satisfied  him  for  it,  whereas  he  represents, 
that  I  had  sold  his  Bill,  which  is  false  in  fact,  for  it  was  my  Bill  not  his,  as  I 
have  made  appear  by  his  own  Bond  as  well  as  the  Governor's  testimony, 
Whereas  Mr.  Rudman  complains  of  the  great  poverty  of  his  family,  at  his 
death,  having  not  one  farthing  to  pay  the  protests  if  he  died.  I  am  informed 
by  very  good  hands  that  he  died  worth  upwards  of  Four  hundred  pounds 
Pensylvania  money,  but  to  my  knowledge  he  bequeathed  to  his  two  daughters 
^100  each,  and  that  he  never  paid  a  farthing  towards  the  protest  of  that  Bill 
(and  I  never  purchased  any  other  of  him),  the  said  Mr.  Edward  Jones  who  is 
now  in  England  an  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Hodges  can  testify,  whose  receipt  for 
the  payment  of  the  said  protested  Bill  I  have  now  by  me  to  produce  upon 
any  just  occasion  I  hope  this  is  sufficient  to  justify  my  conduct  relating  to  the 
said  Mr.  Rudman,  and  if  the  Honorable  Society  shall  not  receive  satisfaction 
by  what  I  have  here  offered  in  my  vindication  I  shall  be  able  upon  due  notice 
not  only  to  clear  myself  by  my  own  testimony,  but  other  people  of  unques- 
tionable credit,  in  this  place  will  be  ready  to  clear  me  of  the  false  charge  laid 
against  me  in  Mr.  Rudman's  Letter,  tho'  I  have  just  reason  to  conclude,  that 
my  affirmation  confirmed  by  our  Lieutenant  Governor  will  be  sufficient  to 
vindicate  my  reputation  with  the  Honorable  Society,  and  to  remove  any  blame 
and  to  restore  me  to  their  former  good  opinion  which  I  would  not  forfeit  upon 
any  account  whatsoever. 


49  [i709- 

I  think  myself  obliged  both  for  the  service  of  the  Church  in  these  parts 
and  out  of  the  just  regards  I  owe  to  your  commands,  to  give  you  an  impartial 
account  of  the  unhappy  state  of  the  Church  in  this  Province,  it  is  no  news  to 
you  to  hear  of  the  removal  of  Mr.  Henry  Nichols  to  Maryland  which  induced 
Mr.  George  Ross  to  leave  his  appointed  Station  at  New  Castle,  and  to  succeed 
Mr.  Nichols  at  Chester  or  Upland  which  occasioned  all  the  confusion  that  has 
since  happened  in  these  Churches :  for  about  six  weeks  ago  Mr.  Wm  Black, 
Minister  of  Lewes  in  Sussex  County  upon  Delaware  River  quitted  his  appoin- 
ted cure  and  is  since  settled  in  Virginia,  Mr.  George  Ross,  late  of  Chester 
after  trying  his  fortune  for  some  time  in  Maryland  was  routed  by  the  late  Col1 
Seymour  and  upon  his  return  possessed  himself  of  the  School  of  Philadelphia 
to  the  ruin  of  Mr.  John  Clubb  our  late  Schoolmaster  who  was  prevailed  upon 
by  some  factious  persons  in  this  place  to  resign  his  School  under  his  hand, 
telling  him  that  they  would  ruin  him  if  he  would  not  make  a  resignation  of  it 
to  Mr.  Ross,  but  upon  his  compliance  they  gave  him  a  laudable  character  to 
the  Honorable  Society  which  I  must  acknowledge  he  justly  deserves  for  the 
three  last  years ;  tho'  I  was  part  of  the  time  in  England,  I  am  assured  by  the 
persons  of  undoubted  credit  that  since  he  undertook  the  service  in  the  Country 
Church  his  deportment  has  been  suitable  to  his  sacred  character. 

I  am  concerned  to  tell  you  that  Mr.  Thomas  Jenkins  your  Missionary  to 
Appoquiminick  died  the  30th  of  the  last  Month  to  the  great  hindrance  of  the 
progress  of  the  Gospel  in  his  parish  where  he  had  laboured  with  very  good 
success  since  his  return  from  New  Castle  whither  he  was  first  inveigled  by  Mr. 
Ross :  Mr.  Talbot  and  I  took  care  to  bury  him  decently  in  the  church  of  Phil- 
adelphia, he  is  generally  lamented  not  only  by  the  people  of  the  Church  of 
England  but  by  the  very  Dissenters  themselves. 

Upon  the  whole  matter  it  is  a  deplorable  thing  that  we  have  no  Missionary 
in  this  Province  beside  myself,  but  Mr.  Crawford  of  Dover  hundred  whose 
labors  I  hear  will  prove  unsuccessful  by  reason  of  an  unhappy  rumour  of  his 
having  another  wife  in  Scotland  which  was  spread  by  one  Wallace  a  merchant 
that  came  from  hence  in  January  last  at  which  time  he  affirmed  his  first  wife 
was  alive.  I  would  not  upon  any  account  say  that  I  believe  him  to  be  guilty 
of  so  wicked  a  charge  but  I  think  it  my  duty  to  advise  the  Honorable  Society 
of  what  is  the  current  report  of  this  Country  that  they  may  take  such  measures 
as  they  in  their  wisdom  shall  think  fit. 

Mr.  John  Clubb  continues  his  service  in  Oxford  near  Frankfort  where  he 


1709.]  5o 

is  beloved  and  under  whose  Ministry  the  Church  has  encreased  and  the 
people  have  addressed  the  Honorable  Society  for  admitting  him  into  their 
Service  and  desire  his  continuance. 

I  hear  Mr.  Edward  Vaughan  is  arrived  at  Boston,  Your  Missionary  to 
Elizabeth  Town  and  Amboy,  and  that  Mr.  Reynolds  your  Missionary  to  Rye  is 
daily  expected. 

I  preached  on  Tuesday  last  at  Hopewell  in  West  Jersey  forty  miles  from 
this  place  where  I  had  a  numerous  congregation,  the  people  of  that  place  are 
very  earnest  for  a  Missionary  now  the  Church  is  finished.  On  next  Monday 
I  am  to  preach  at  a  New  Settlement  called  Parqu-omon  in  the  County  of 
Philadelphia  twenty-four  miles  to  the  Northwest  of  this  place  situate  upon 
the  River  Schuylkill  where  I  am  to  baptize  a  whole  family  of  Quakers  to  the 
number  of  sixteen. 

The  vestry  of  Appoquiminick  have  desired  me  to  preach  at  their  Church 
65  miles  distant  from  Philadelphia  on  the  first  Sunday  in  September  which  I 
have  promised  to  do,  designing  at  the  same  time  to  take  a  Catalogue  of  what 
Books  I  find  belonging  to  the  Church,  and  those  which  properly  belonged  to 
the  late  Minister,  a  copy  of  which  shall  be  transmitted  to  you  by  the  first  op- 
portunity and  any  thing  else  that  occurs  worth  your  knowledge, 

Honored  Sir, 

Yours,  &c., 

EVAN  EVANS. 


COL7    GOOKIN  to  the  Secretary. 


Philadelphia, 

27th  August,  1709. 
Sir, 

My  Lord  of  London  having  written  to  the  Vestry  of  this  Church  to  choose 
me  of  the  number,  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  enquire  into  the  state  of  it,  and  of 
these  of  the  whole  province  and  counties  as  I  have  the  honor  to  command  in 
them,  You  Sir,  being  Secretary  to  the  Society,  I  hope  I  shall  not  be  thought 
troublesome  if  I  give  you  an  account  thereof  as  I  have  done  my  Lord. 


5i  [i7°9. 

For  lately  travelling-  through  the  country  I  found  Mr.  Black  of  Lewes  in 
Sussex,  removing  to  Maryland  and  was  not  to  be  diverted  by  all  I  could  say 
to  him,  Mr.  Crawford  in  Kent  county  and  his  people  seemed  well  enough 
pleased  with  one  another,  Mr.  Jenkins  of  Appoquiminick  is  lately  dead.  Mr. 
Ross  of  New  Castle  is  removed  to  the  School  in  this  Town,  Mr.  Clubb  having 
resigned  to  him  till  his  Lordship's  pleasure  is  known.  Chester  is  vacant  by 
the  removal  of  Mr.  Henry  Nichols  likewise  to  Maryland :  Trinity  Church  in 
Town  of  Oxford  has  been  supplied  by  Mr.  Clubb  ever  since  the  death  of  Mr. 
Rudman  in  September  last :  he  is  approved  of  by  that  congregation  ;  they 
desire  his  continuance  and  I  suppose  have  addressed  the  Society  for  an 
allowance  for  him.  As  for  this  Church,  I  must  do  Mr.  Evans  the  justice  to 
assure  you  it  is  well  served  for  besides  his  diligence  in  all  the  parts  of  his 
function,  his  morals  are  without  blame,  nevertheless  there  is  a  party  that  some 
times  speak  but  coldly  of  him,  and  as  I  am  informed  have  for  some  time  hin- 
dered the  people  from  subscribing  an  allowance  for  his  better  maintenance  in 
order  to  make  him  weary  of  staying  here ;  the  reason  I  take  to  be  this,  some 
Gentlemen  of  the  Town  having  many  Sons,  and  not  liking  Mr.  Clubb's  way  of 
teaching,  have  chosen  Mr.  Ross  for  that  purpose  &  proposed  to  Mr.  Evans  to 
allow  him  to  preach  once  a  week  as  a  Lecturer  in  order  as  is  believed  the 
better  to  recommend  him  for  this  Cure  when  Mr.  Evans's  Mission  is  over  who 
will  not  be  persuaded  to  allow  him  lest  it  might  occasion  a  Division  in  the 
church,  which  this  matter  excepted,  seems  to  be  in  perfect  tranquillity :  how- 
ever tho'  of  the  Vestry,  they  with  the  rest  have  lately  voted  him  about  ^60 
sterling  per  annum  to  commence  from  the  time  of  his  arrival  here.  You  will 
have  a  fuller  account  of  this  and  other  affairs  of  the  church  from  himself. 

I  hope,  Sir,  you  will  pardon  me  if  upon  a  very  slender  acquaintance  I  ven- 
ture to  desire  a  favor  of  you,  which  I  could  not  persuade  myself  to  do,  had 
not  Mr.  Evans  often  assured  me  of  your  readiness  to  serve  all  that  are  or 
may  be  in  distress.  I  am  one  of  the  latter,  and  have  represented  my  case  to 
my  Lord  of  London,  and  begged  his  interest.  I  only  desire  you  would  put 
him  in  mind  of  me  in  case  Mr.  Penn  resigns  this  Government  to  the  Crown, 
which  I  believe  he  will  be  persuaded  to  do,  it  being  the  desire  of  most  of  the 
Quakers  of  note,  and  all  the  Church  and  other  parties.  The  Secretary  of  the 
province  is  now  going  over  for  that  end.  The  occasion  is  this,  The  Queen 
having  honored  me  with  her  commands  that  this  Province  should  furnish  out 
1 50  men  as  its  quota  for  the  Expedition  against  Canada,  I  called  an  Assembly 


1709.]  52 

and  demanded  ^4000,  they  being  all  Quakers,  after  much  delay,  Resolved 
nemine  contradicente  that  it  was  contrary  to  their  religious  principles  to  hire 
men  to  kill  one  another.  I  told  some  of  them  the  Queen  did  not  hire  men  to 
kill  one  another,  but  to  destroy  her  Enemies.  One  of  them  answered,  the 
Assembly  understood  English.  After  I  had  tried  all  ways  to  bring  them  to 
reason,  they  again  resolved  nemine  contradicente  that  they  could  not  directly 
or  indirectly  raise  money  for  the  Expedition  to  Canada,  but  they  had  voted 
the  Queen  ^500  as  a  Token  of  their  respect,  &c,  and  that  the  money  should 
be  put  into  a  safe  hand,  till  they  were  satisfied  from  England  it  should  not  be 
employed  to  the  use  of  the  war,  I  told  them  the  Queen  did  not  want  such  a 
sum,  but  being  a  pious  and  good  woman,  perhaps  she  might  give  it  to  the 
Clergy  sent  hither  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel,  one  of  them  answered 
that  was  worse  than  the  other,  on  which  arose  a  debate  in  the  Assembly 
whether  they  should  give  money  or  not  since  it  might  be  employed  for  the  use 
of  the  war  or  against  their  future  Establishment,  and  after  much  wise  debate 
it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative  by  one  voice  only.  Their  number  is  26. 
They  are  entirely  governed  by  their  speaker  one  David  Lloyd.  He  is  reck- 
oned one  of  those  Lawyer's  styled  cunning,  he  was  bred  under  my  Lord 
Chancellor  Jefferies  &  here  marrying,  turned  Quaker,  he  has  by  his  behaviour 
in  the  Admiralty  Court  and  otherwise  given  great  offence  to  the  Council  in 
England  and  to  the  Board  of  Trade  notwithstanding  which  and  the  proprie- 
tor's endeavors  to  remove  him,  he  is  always  chosen  speaker,  &  under  pretence 
of  reforming  abuses  does  him  all  the  ill  offices  in  his  power,  so  that  I  am  like 
to  get  no  money  from  the  Assembly,  but  must  live  on  a  small  Pension  from 
Mr.  Penn,  unless  he  gives  up  the  Government,  and  then  perhaps  I  may  have 
none.  This  puts  me  upon  trying  my  friends  among  which  I  must  suppose, 
Sir,  you  are  one  for  the  reasons  mentioned,  but  however  it  may  fare  with  me, 
I  shall  ever  think  myself  happy  in  your  friendship,  and  shall  with  pleasure 
embrace  all  occasions,  that  may  manifest  the  esteem  and  affection  with  which 
I  am, 

Sir, 

Yours,  &c., 

CHAS.  GOOKIN. 


53  [1709. 

VESTRY  of  CHESTER  to  the  Society. 


Pensylvania, 

ist  September,  1709. 
Gentlemen, 

We  are  favoured  with  a  Letter  from  Mr.  Chamberlayne  15th  February  last 
desiring  us  to  give  a  true  account  what  allowance  Mr.  Nichols  our  late  Minis- 
ter had  from  us  and  what  quarrels  and  disputes  happened  during  his  stay  with 
us  betwixt  him  and  any  of  his  parishioners. 

We  must  needs  own  we  have  been  wanting  in  our  duty  in  not  giving  a 
more  early  account  of  his  proceedings  here,  and  the  state  of  our  church  to 
you  Gentlemen  without  whose  care  and  continued  charity  it  cannot  yet  subsist, 
but  we  have  defered  for  two  reasons  Ist  we  were  not  willing  an  account  of  any 
difference  among  us  (which  was  afterwards  accommodated),  should  be  given 
to  our  patrons  and  benefactors,  lest  they  should  be  discouraged,  and 'another 
was,  our  wants  pressed  us  not  to  it,  because  at  that  juncture  Mr.  Ross's  indis- 
position at  New  Castle  forced  him  from  thence  to  serve  the  church  here  about 
a  month  or  two  after  Mr.  Nichols's  departure,  concerning  whom  we  could  wish 
to  be  silent  but  our  duty  to  you  Gentlemen  and  the  suffering  of  our  Church 
requires  us  to  speak,  which  we  intend  with  all  tenderness  possible  and  only 
give  a  short  relation  of  the  matter  of  fact  as  followeth. 

That  Gentleman  continued  with  us  above  three  years  and  for  his  preach- 
ing, scarce  any  here  did  exceed  him,  the  first  and  most  of  the  second  year  he 
lived  in  good  reputation,  and  had  the  esteem  of  all  that  heard  him  (saving  an 
arrogant  and  haughty  humour,  which  upon  many  occasions  would  shew  itself 
in  him,  but  as  that  sin  is  often  punished  by  a  degradation  so  it  happened  in 
him.  A  young  woman  in  the  house  accused  him  of  too  much  familiarity  with 
a  Gentleman's  wife,  who  had  introduced  him  to  his  house  and  with  whom  he 
boarded  and  lodged.  This  came  to  the  Ears  of  a  person  who  next  to  your 
bounty  and  charity  was  the  chief  support  of  our  Church.  He  took  the  free- 
dom to  tell  him  of  it  privately,  which  so  fretted  him  that  his  own  impatience 
soon  made  it  public,  &  instead  of  giving  any  satisfaction,  from  that  time  waged 
war  both  in  public  and  in  private  (the  pulpit  not  excepted),  with  the  person 
that  had  the  ill  fortune  to  charge  him  with  it.  From  that  time  the  Church 
began  to  decrease  which  before  was  crowded,  and  the  envy  of  the  Quakers 


1 709-]  54 

who  now  began  to  tell  the  people  of  their  Priest.  However  after  this  Mr. 
Nichols  married  and  all  differences  were  accommodated  and  over,  but  an  op- 
portunity of  a  more  valuable  place  offered  in  Maryland,  and  he  alleging  the 
charge  of  a  married  state  took  the  liberty  to  leave  us.  The  first  and  second 
year  his  money  contributed  amounted  to  ^60  per  annum,  and  the  last  year 
not  above  ^40.  The  dispute  and  quarrel  betwixt  him  and  the  person  that 
charged  him  was  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  managed  by  way  of  writing  to 
one  another,  which  might  be  sent  to  you  Gentlemen  but  we  are  willing  to  for- 
get things,  and  fear  we  have  taken  up  too  much  of  your  precious  time  already 
about  him.  We  only  beg  leave  to  observe  that  Mr.  Nichols's  leaving  this 
church,  is  attended  with  the  ill  consequence  that  three  churches  are  now 
vacant;  this  church,  that  of  New  Castle,  and  Appoquiminick  for  on  his  re- 
moval Mr.  Ross  removed  from  New  Castle  here  and  Mr.  Jenkins  from  Appo- 
quiminy  to  New  Castle,  who  have  thereby  incurred  your  displeasure  and  for 
want  of  the  continuance  of  your  Bounty,  Mr.  Ross  has  betaken  himself  to  the 
School  of  Philadelphia  &  Mr.  Jenkins  though  he  removed  from  New  Castle  to 
Appoquiminy  is  since  dead. 

Gentlemen,  we  desire  not  to  be  tedious,  but  beseech  you  to  continue  your 
pious  care  over  us  in  restoring  Mr.  Ross  to  your  usual  bounty  and  charity 
whose  abilities  and  conversation  we  have  had  some  years  experience  of,  but 
if  this  may  not  be  granted  us,  we  beg  you  to  supply  us  with  another  mission- 
ary otherwise  this  poor  church,  seated  in  the  very  center  of  Quakers,  will 
quickly  decay  and  become  the  object  of  derision  to  that  people.  May  God 
Almighty  retaliate  your  great  goodness  to  us,  &  the  churches  here,  is  the  sin- 
cere prayers  of. 

Gentlemen,  Yours,  &c., 

JASPER  YEATES,  &  others. 

P.  S.  Mr.  Ross  has  promised  to  supply  our  Church  until  he  hears  from 
you  Gentlemen,  or  that  we  answer  to  this. 


55  [I7Q9- 

VESTRY  of  APPO^UIMININK  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Appoquiminink, 

September  5th,  1709. 
Honored  Sir, 

Yours  of  the  15th  February  last  we  received  the  3d  of  July  by  the  hand  of 
Mr  Keeble,  by  which  we  understand  the  Honorable  Society  for  propagating 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  parts  are  advised  that  the  Reverend  Mr.  Thomas  Jen- 
kins has  left  their  Service  here,  an  account  of  which  we  have  sent  at  large  to 
my  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  as  also  of  his  return  to  his  mission  which  we 
humbly  desired  his  Lordship  to  communicate  to  the  Society.  But  it  pleased 
Almighty  God  that  after  he  had  faithfully  served  the  church  here  five  months 
to  take  him  to  himself  to  our  unspeakable  grief  and  loss,  and  we  must  do 
that  justice  to  his  memory  as  to  assure  the  Honorable  Society  that  since  his 
return  he  so  behaved  himself  in  all  respects  both  as  to  his  doctrine  and  life  as 
became  one  that  bore  the  sacred  character,  and  God  did  so  bless  his  Labours 
here  that  before  he  died  our  church  was  in  a  flourishing  condition  which  must 
unavoidably  decline  unless  the  Venerable  Society  will  be  pleased  to  take  our 
case  into  their  pious  consideration  and  send  us  over  another  Minister  such 
as  will  by  his  Godly  conversation  and  sound  doctrine  be  both  able  and  willing 
to  enlarge  the  Borders  of  our  infant  church  and  we  do  humbly  desire  that  he 
may  be  sent  with  all  possible  speed  and  dispatch,  because  the  dissenting  party 
amongst  us  have  sent  to  New  England  for  a  minister  to  preach  to  them  in  a 
meeting  house  they  have  built  here  for  that  purpose ;  but  if  our  church  be 
soon  supplied  we  shall  not  fear  any  hurt  they  can  do  us.  Otherwise  all  our 
charges  in  building  our  church  and  the  endeavours  of  our  late  Minister  will 
prove  abortive  and  because  our  neighbouring  Churches  have  been  supplied 
by  Gentlemen  of  North  Britain  for  their  Ministers,  who  have  all  miscarried  in 
their  duties  according  to  their  holy  orders,  we  therefore  humbly  and  earnestly 
desire  the  honorable  Society  to  send  us  no  Minister  of  that  Nation. 

The  allowance  or  encouragement  we  have  therefore  sent  an  account  of  to 
my  Lord  Bishop  of  London  and  the  honorable  Society,  we  still  are  willing  to 
pay  to  any  other  Minister  that  my  Lord  Bishop  and  the  Society  shall  appoint. 


1709.]  56 

Although  Mr.  Jenkins  received  none  of  it,  yet  we  shall  pay  our  Subscriptions 
for  the  time  he  served  here,  for  the  defraying  his  funeral  charges,       *      *      * 

Honored  Sir, 

Yours,  &c., 

WILLM  WILLIAMS, 

and  others — Wardens. 


COLL   EVANS  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Philadelphia,  in  the 
Province  of  Pensylvania. 
October  17th,  1709. 
Sir, 

*  *  *  I  crave  leave  to  trouble  you  with  a  line  concerning  the  Rever- 
end Mr  Thomas  Jenkins  a  late  Missionary  of  the  Society's  to  Appoquiminink 
in  the  County  of  New  Castle  now  deceased,  who  in  his  necessities  desired  me 
to  supply  him  with  a  small  sum  of  money  for  which  I  took  his  Bill  drawn  upon 
his  Salary.  But  being  informed  that  by  occasion  of  his  removal  from  that 
part  of  the  county  to  the  Town  of  New  Castle,  the  Society  had  taken  some 
displeasure  against  him  for  such  his  removal  which  might  make  the  payment  of 
that  Bill  and  others  more  difficult.  I  take  the  liberty  to  give  you  the  true  rea- 
sons of  his  coming  to  New  Castle.  When  those  of  Appoquiminick  applied 
for  a  minister  those  of  New  Castle  were  supplied ;  but  at  Mr.  Jenkins's  arrival 
they  were  destitute  and  being  a  place  of  far  greater  importance  every  way 
and  used  to  have  the  word  of  God  duly  preached  to  them  by  an  orthodox 
minister,  the  want  of  one  was  much  more  grievous  to  them,  than  to  those  who 
never  had  any  settled  among  them,  but  were  frequently  favoured  by  the  kind- 
ness of  a  neighbouring  Minister  of  Maryland :  Besides  their  being  in  the 
Town  of  New  Castle  a  Dissenting  Minister  which  we  were  not  without  hopes 
might  by  the  diligence  and  prudence  of  a  good  man  have  been  entirely 
brought  to  unite  with  the  Church,  as  some  of  the  most  noted  had  already 
gone  a  very  good  length,  it  was  thought  that  station  would  have  yielded  the 


57  [1709. 

best  fruit  of  his  Labour  &  Ministry,  and  which  very  evidently  proved  so,  dur- 
ing his  continuance  there ;  and  I  dare  presume  had  yourself  been  there,  or 
any  of  the  Society,  they  would  have  found  a  real  necessity  of  the  change  till 
New  Castle  could  have  been  otherwise  supplied.  He  was  a  good  man,  I 
think  truely,  &  had  God  been  pleased  to  have  spared  his  life  and  the  Society 
been  consenting  to  his  attendance  at  New  Castle  (though  not  the  very  place 
he  was  sent  to,  yet  in  the  same  county),  I  am  truly  persuaded  there  would 
have  been  at  this  time  but  one  Assembly  of  worship  in  that  Town,  viz'  the 
Church,  whereas  by  his  quitting  it  upon  notice  of  the  Society's  dislike  the 
meeting  only  is  supplied,  Sir,  I  have  given  you  some  of  the  reasons  of  Mr. 
Jenkins's  procedure  which  I  believe  will  appear  reasonable,  and  upon  which  I 
doubt  not  but  you  will  use  your  Interest  that  so  much  justice  may  be  done  to 
the  memory  of  that  Missionary  as  to  pay  his  Bill  drawn  to  satisfy  his  absolute 
necessities,  otherwise  I  know  certainly  that  not  only  his  character  will  suffer 
here,  but  it  will  be  a  very  great  discouragement  to  all  others  here,  who  may 
unavoidably  some  time  fall  under  the  same,  or  greater  necessities  of  removal  ; 
for  should,  for  example,  this  Town  of  Philadelphia  (of  the  greatest  conse- 
quence), be  unhappily  deprived  of  their  minister  all  mankind  would  agree 
that  an  immediate  supply  would  be  necessary,  and  where  should  that  be  looked 
for  but  from  the  nearest  at  hand,  if  a  good  man,  and  if  the  Society  should  not 
leave  room  in  their  orders  for  such  contingencies  their  pious  and  good  designs 
would  suffer  by  the  unhappy  effects.  Sir,  'tis  true  I  have  a  small  interest  in 
having  the  Bill  paid  that  none  will  fail  to  see,  but  I  hope  upon  consideration  it 
will  be  as  plainly  seen  that  the  reasons  I  have  given  to  you  are  just  and  prudent 
and  if  Mr.  Chamberlayne  will  please  to  command  me  in  any  thing  on  this  side 
the  world  within  my  power  I  shall  be  proud  of  any  occasion  of  shewing  with 
how  much  regard  I  am, 

Sir,  Yours,  &c., 
8  JOHN  EVANS. 


1709.]  58 

The  BISHOP   of  LONDON  to  the  Secretary. 


16th  December,  1709. 
Sir, 

Not  being  able  to  be  with  you  to  day,  I  take  this  opportunity  to  acquaint 
you  with  the  state  of  the  churches  in  Pensylvania  and  New  Jersey,  not  know- 
ing how  far  you  have  been  instructed  of  their  ill  state,  in  a  great  measure 
caused  by  Mr.  Ross,  who  to  get  nearer  to  Philadelphia  trapanned  poor  Mr. 
Jenkins  over  to  New  Castle,  and  set  the  only  friend  Mr.  Nichols  had  at  Ches- 
ter so  inveterately  against  him  that  he  was  forced  to  fly  to  Maryland  and  so 
made  way  for  himself  to  get  into  that  place,  where  he  had  no  sooner  got,  but 
immediately  upon  Mr.  Club's  removal  he  applied  himself  to  the  Gentlemen  of 
Philadelphia  to  be  chosen  School  master  in  his  room  which  they  have  actually 
done,  and  by  his  own  Letter  I  perceive  he  is  undermining  Mr,  Evans,  to  get 
likewise  into  that  Church,  Mr.  Black  is  got  to  Virginia,  Mr.  Jenkins  is  dead,  so 
that  there  is  likely  to  be  a  very  great  desertion  in  those  parts  unless  speedy 
care  be  taken  to  prevent  it.  I  shall  take  what  care  I  can  to  find  out  fit  persons 
to  supply  these  wants  though  I  am  afraid,  if  some  that  may  be  most  servicea- 
ble be  not  better  provided  for  than  ordinary,  we  shall  hardly  be  able  to  make 
so  perfect  a  recovery  of  these  misfortunes,  as  could  be  wished.  I  suppose 
you  know  that  poor  Mr.  Urquhart  is  dead,  but  I  would  be  glad  to  know  by 
this  Bearer  what  your  thoughts  are  concerning  Mr.  Beyse  whether  it  may  be 
fit  to  send  him  to  New  York,  because  I  find  there  are  some  exceptions  against 
him,  I  am, 

Sir,  Yours,  &c., 

H.  London. 


GENTN  of  CHESTER  to  the  Society. 


Pensylvania, 
Gentlemen,  14th  July,  17 10. 

The  Letter  we  herewith  send  you  is  a  copy  of  what  was  writ  your  Honors 
August  last  which  we  fear  miscarried,  because  we  have  had  no  answer  to  it. 


59  [i/io. 

We  understand  by  a  Letter  from  a  person  of  worth  and  credit  that  Mr.  Nichols 
has  falsely  suggested  to  His  Lordship,  the  Bishop  of  London,  that  by  bitter 
treatment  he  was  forced  to  leave  this  Church  to  make  way  for  Mr.  Ross.  We 
are  sorry  that  a  Gentleman  of  the  Sacred  function  should  be  so  disingenuous, 
but  when  he  was  ashamed  to  assign  the  true  reason  he  was  obliged  to  find 
out  some  other.  He  left  this  Church  near  two  months  before  Mr.  Ross  came 
which  was  not  till  after  Mr.  Jenkins  arrived,  for  at  first  Mr.  Jenkins  proposed 
to  settle  here  &  accordingly  preached  in  the  church  till  afterwards  he  and  Mr. 
Ross  agreed  that  Mr.  Jenkins  should  settle  in  New  Castle  and  Mr.  Ross  in 
this  place.  We  are  sorry  that  his  mistake  should  be  so  much  aggravated 
against  Mr.  Ross  as  we  understand  it  is.  We  cannot  justify  him  in  it,  but  we 
are  too  sensible  of  his  worth  not  to  be  concerned  for  his  private  sufferings  as 
well  as  the  public  loss  in  his  removal.  He  comes  now  to  speak  for  himself  and 
we  take  this  opportunity  of  writing,  beseeching  your  Honors  to  continue  your 
pious  care  over  us  and  to  prevent  the  decay  of  this  church  after  so  many  years 
growth  to  send  (if  not  Mr.  Ross),  yet  some  pious  and  sober  Minister  to  sup- 
ply it. 

May  God  Almighty  reward  your  care  and  charity  towards  us,  is  the  sincere 
desire  of, 

Gentlemen, 

Yours  &CM 

JASPER  YEATES 

and  others. 


Mr.   CLUBB  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Oxford,  Pensylvania, 

24th  July,  1 710. 
Honored  Sir, 

*      *      *      Colonel  Nicholson  intimated  that  there  are  Books  usually  giv- 
ing to  be  disposed  of  in  those  places  where  the  Society's  Missionaries  are. 


1710.]  6o 

Indeed,  Sir,  it  would  be  of  excellent  use  if  some  of  those  Books,  so  to  be  dis- 
posed of,  were  such  as  handle  the  controversies  in  Religion  between  us  and 
the  Quakers,  Anabaptists  and  Sabatarians,  for  such  our  neighbours  are  in 
abundance,  many  of  those  Anabaptists  come  frequently  to  church  and  I  hope 
in  a  little  time  I  shall  prevail  with  them  to  come  constantly,  and  have  their 
families  baptized.  Some  of  their  children  I  have  catechised  publicly  already 
in  the  church  and  do  give  a  tolerable  account  of  their  faith,  and  they  scruple 
not  so  much  Baptism  even  of  Infants  as  they  do  the  circumstances  of  it,  but 
there  are  others  perverse  and  obstinate  to  all  the  arguments  you  can  use.  We 
have  24  constant  communicants,  and  more  upon  the  Festivals,  we  have  of  late 
lost  a  serious  sober  good  christian  that  was  of  our  Vestry,  of  whose  death 
Mr.  Keith  will  be  sorry  to  hear  the  news,  of  which  when  you  see  him,  pray 
be  pleased  to  acquaint  him  ;  his  name  was  Edward  Eaton. 

Worthy  Sir, 

Yours,  &c., 

JOHN  CLUBB. 


BISHOP  of  LONDON  to  the  Secretary. 

Monday. 
Sir, 

I  am  so  well  satisfied  in  Mr.  Ross',  his  innocence,  that  I  am  of  opinion  we 
ought  to  pay  him  his  arrears  when  we  can,  and  that  it  will  be  best  to  send  him 
to  Chester  for  the  convenience  of  his  family.     I  am, 

Sir, 
Yours,  &c., 

H.  London. 


61  ll7lo. 


VESTRY  of  APPO^UIMINICK  to  the  SECRETARY. 


Appoquiminick, 

i  i  Decr,  1 710. 
Honored  Sir, 

Our  last  to  you  was  on  the  1 5th  of  Septr  past,  when  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Black  was  here,  and  assured  us  that  he  would  not  officiate  as  our  minister,  he 
being  engaged  to  serve  a  church  in  Accomake  in  Virginia,  a  full  account  of 
which  he  says  he  has  sent  to  the  Honorable  Society,  therefore  we  once  more 
humbly  entreat  you  to  lay  before  their  honors  our  poor  miserable  and  deplor- 
able state  for  want  of  the  Holy  Ordinances  of  the  Almighty  God  to  be  duly 
in  the  Sacraments  administered  unto  us  according  to  the  rites  and  ceremonies 
of  the  Church  of  England,  imploring  in  our  behalf  that  honorable  body  to 
send  us  a  minister  to  guide  and  teach  us,  which  we  hope  they  will  do  by  the 
first  opportunity. 

We  cannot  omit  earnestly  begging  you  to  acquaint  the  Venerable  Society 
of  the  great  services  done  to  us  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Ericus  Biorck  (since 
the  death  of  the  Revd  Mr.  Jenkins),  who  for  these  twelve  months  past  came 
once  a  month,  read  divine  service,  and  preached  the  Gospel  here,  though  the 
distance  he  is  from  hence  is  far,  besides  other  services  by  him,  done  in  several 
places,  by  preaching  and  baptizing,  the  which  good  Offices  to  most  he  has 
done  for  God's  sake,  and  the  living:  or  allowance  he  has  from  his  own  conere- 
gation  in  Christiana  Creek,  on  Delaware,  amounts  not  to  fifteen  pounds  ster- 
ling a  year,  and  we  are  sure  no  man  of  the  Sacred  Function  in  these  parts 
better  deserves  than  he.  Therefore  we  pray,  and  hope  God  will  move  the 
honorable  Society  to  consider  that  good  man's  assiduous  care  and  reward  his 
labors  in  the  ministry  in  these  parts.  We  also  request  you  to  acquaint  the 
Society  that  Mr.  Jenkins  before  his  coming  to  this  church  disposed  of  almost 
all  the  Common  Prayer  Books  he  brought  with  him  to  the  congregations 
where  he  then  preached,  as  also  many  other  Books  designed  for  us,  so  that 
our  poor  parishioners  are  without.  Therefore  we  humbly  desire  they  will  by 
the  next  minister  send  another  supply,  for  they  are  not  to  be  purchased  here. 
All  which  we  sincerely  desire  you  favorably  to  communicate  to  their  honors, 


171 1  •]  62 

praying  to  God  for  their  healths  and  successful  prosperity  in  promoting  the  glo- 
rious Gospel  in  foreign  parts.     We  remain, 

Yours,  &c., 

Richd  Cantwell,     ) 
Isaac  Gooding,         [-     Wardens. 
and  others.    ) 


ADDRESS  of  the    CLERGY  in    PENSTLVANIA  to 

the  SOCIETY. 


Burlington, 

12th  April,  171 1. 
We,  the  clergy  of  the  Church  of  England,  in  Pensylvania  and  New  Jer- 
sey, humbly  presume  to  address  the  Honorable  Society  for  the  propagation  of 
the  Gospel  in  behalf  of  some  of  our  Brethren  whose  missionary  Labors 
abroad  do  well  deserve  the  consideration  of  their  great  and  good  Benefactors 
at  home.  The  Honorable  Society  having  about  a  year  since  sent  out  the 
Revd  Mr.  Sinclare  into  these  parts,  we  think  it  our  duty  to  acquaint  the  Patrons 
of  Religion  that  he  has  in  all  respects  answered  the  noble  ends  which  they 
have  in  view,  viz',  the  promotion  of  true  piety  in  the  world  by  sound  doctrine 
and  a  Holy  life,  but  the  ill  state  of  his  health  not  permitting  him  to  accomplish 
his  good  intentions,  'tis  highly  necessary  that  he  should  be  removed  to  some 
more  agreeable  place  than  Newcastle,  where  he  now  resides.  He  is  contin- 
ually afflicted  with  a  Tertian  Ague.  He  does  not  desire  to  quit  his  mission, 
but  to  receive  an  order  for  some  other  part  of  the  country,  where  he  may  have 
more  health,  &  consequently,  greater  opportunities  of  doing  good.  He  most 
approves  of  Piscataqua  in  New  England,  or  Stratford  in  Connecticut.  The 
Honorable  Society  has  received  from  several  hands  an  account  of  the  latter 
of  these  already,  and  therefore  we  shall  not  repeat  it  now,  but  as  to  the  former 
we  are  satisfied  there  is  as  good  prospect  of  success  for  a  minister  of  the 
church  of  England,  as  in  any  part  of  America,  Your  other  Missionary,  whose 
case  we  think  ourselves  obliged,  both   in  justice  and  charity,  to  represent  to 


63  [i7". 

the  venerable  Society,  is  the  Revd  Mr.  John  Clubb,  minister  of  Oxford  in 
Pensylvania.  He  has  been  so  diligent  and  successful  in  his  ministry,  that  his 
people,  now,  are  enlarging  their  church,  but  they  are  so  poor  that  they  are 
able  to  do  little  or  nothing  for  his  support,  and  his  Salary  from  whom,  which 
does  not  exceed  Thirty  pounds  Sterling  per  annum,  will  hardly  find  bread  for 
him  and  his  family ;  ^14,  which  he  pays  yearly  for  his  house,  is  a  very  consid- 
erable deduction,  and  horse  hire,  and  every  thing  else  is  proportionably  dear, 
So  that  we  humbly  pray  the  honorable  Society  to  allow  him  the  usual  Salary, 
which,  out  of  a  glorious  primitive  Zeal  they  grant  to  their  Laborers  in  this 
American  Vineyard.  As  our  charity  should  not  be  confined  to  ourselves  We 
presume  likewise  to  recommend  to  the  consideration  of  the  Honorable  Society 
the  extraordinary  labours  of  Mr.  Biorck,  one  of  the  Sweedish  ministers  in 
Pensylvania,  who  is  a  gentleman  of  great  worth,  learning  and  piety,  and 
upon  whose  qualifications  we  could  make  a  very  large  and  just  encomium. 
But  what  moves  us  to  address  the  Honorable  Body  in  his  behalf  is  the  inde- 
fatigable diligence  which  he  has  shewn  in  supplying  the  English  churches  of 
Appoquiminy  and  Newcastle  when  vacant.  His  services  really  are  so  benefi- 
cial to  the  respective  congregations  there,  that  we  do  not  doubt  but  he'll 
receive  the  thanks  and  bounty  of  this  venerable  Society.  He  has  no  prospect 
of  recompence  in  these  parts  of  the  world,  and  his  modesty  is  so  great  that 
he  did  not  in  the  least  desire  this  application  to  our  patrons  at  home.  But  we 
think  we  could  not  omit  it  without  manifest  injustice,  for  God  alone,  and  you 
his  faithful  Stewards  are  only  capable  of  rewarding  Mr.  Biorck's  pious  Zeal 
and  labour  of  love  which  he  has  shewn  for  Christ's  sake,  which  is  our  hearty 
prayer  and  earnest  desire,  and  so  with  all  submission  and  due  respect  do  beg 
leave  to  subscribe  ourselves  the  Venerable  Society's 

Most  faithful  and  most 

obed1  humble  Servts, 
John  Talbot,         Evan  Evans,         Andw  Sandel, 

Swedish  Minister  at  Wicaco,  Edwd  Vaughan, 


17"-]  64 

GOVERNOR   &f   others   of   Pensylvania    to   the    Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 
Honored  Sir, 

The  Reverend  Mr.  Henderson,  the  Honorable  Society's  Missionary  to 
Dover  Hundred,  arrived  safe  here  about  a  month  ago,  and  after  producing 
his  powers  from  the  Right  Reverend  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  and  Honor- 
able Society  to  the  Governor  of  this  Province,  repaired  to  the  said  Dover 
Hundred,  where  the  people  are  no  ways  disposed  to  receive  him,  but  rather 
dispute  his  powers  than  take  any  care  to  provide  a  Lodging  for  him,  and  he 
cannot  get  any  place  to  lodge  in  but  the  public  Inn  of  the  county,  no  ways 
convenient  or  proper  for  him.  The  Gentleman  that  promoted  all  manner  of 
good  in  that  place  (Captain  Radney),  is  now  dead,  and  indeed  all  manner  of 
good,  dead  with  him.  There  are  other  two  persons  of  substance  there,  Cap- 
tain Brinklow  and  Arthur  Medston,  the  one  Grandfather  and  the  other  father 
to  the  wife  that  Mr.  Crawford  married  here.  Her  father,  Arthur  Medston,  is 
a  presbyterian,  and  took  a  great  deal  of  pains  to  raise  scruples  against  the 
Gentleman's  credentials.  The  Land  upon  which  the  church  is  built  being 
given  by  a  presbyterian,  and  the  Deed  drawn  so  that  any  Orthodox  minister 
may  preach  in  that  church,  and  the  greatest  number  of  the  people  being 
presbyterians,  this  Arthur  Medstone  says  they  may  as  well  bring  in  a  presby- 
terian minister  as  him,  and  by  this  means  the  people  are  backward  in  doing 
any  thing  to  promote  his  residing  among  them.  When  Mr.  Crawford  came 
first  here,  Captain  Radney  and  the  other  two  persons  before  mentioned,  made 
him  welcome  to  their  houses  to  Lodge,  but  now  the  case  is  altered,  for  they 
complain  that  any  should  be  sent  there  when  Mr.  Crawford  is  neither  silenced 
nor  suspended ;  whether  Mr.  Crawford  has  any  hand  in  this  opposition  or  not 
we  cannot  tell,  only  it  is  very  hard  on  Mr.  Henderson  in  the  mean  time,  and 
abstracting  from  these  two  persons,  Mr.  Crawford's  relations,  there  is  no  body 
else  can  give  him  any  manner  of  entertainment         *         *         * 

Yours,  &c., 

Evan  Evans,  Chas  Gookin, 

John  Talbot,  Robt  Quarry. 


65  [i7". 

M\   BASS  to    the    Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Honored  Sir, 

*  There  may  be  and  are  other  members  of  your  honorable 

Society  amongst  us,  but  none  that  I  know  of  that  so  affectionately  interests 
himself  in  the  concern  of  the  church  as  that  worthy  member,  Col1  Quarry. 

I  am  glad  I  can  now  give  you  a  more  comfortable  account  of  your  missions 
in  these  parts  than  I  did  in  my  former.  Some  unhappy  differences  that  arose 
in  our  church  of  Burlington,  are  through  the  blessing  of  God,  on  the  endeav- 
ours of  Col1  Quarry  and  Mr.  Evans,  entirely  removed,  and  a  firm  union 
between  our  communicants  and  Minister  established,  which  I  hope  all  the  arts 
of  our  Enemies  shall  never  be  able  to  dissolve.  I  must  not  omit  here  to 
assure  you,  that  that  good  man,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Talbot,  deserves  as  much 
the  care  and  regards  of  the  Society  as  any  minister  amongst  us,  and  hath  been 
in  my  opinion  as  universally  useful.  Notwithstanding  some  things  that  you 
in  your  Letter  desire  he  might  be  more  moderate  in,  his  conversation  is 
unblameable,  and  his  care  and  concern  more  for  the  interest  of  the  church 
and  the  glory  of  God  than  for  any  thing  that  can  concern  himself.  Hopewell 
church  hath  been  supplied  this  Winter  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  May,  an  honest 
sincere  man,  chaplain  to  the  Feversham,  Captain  Paston  commander,  to  the 
great  satisfaction  of  that  congregation  that  is  now  encreasing.  As  to  the 
churches  in  the  Eastern  Division,  under  the  care  of  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Vaughan,  I  could  heartily  rejoice  that  the  Gentleman  might  see  the  fruit  of 
his  Labours  in  the  Reformation  of  his  auditors  in  Elizabeth  Town.  A  church 
is  built  but  not  finished,  and  as  I  am  informed,  an  indifferent  large  congrega- 
tion ;  at  Piscataway  there  are  Auditors  enough  to  begin  a  church,  but  I  hear 
little  progress  is  made  in  it.         *         *         * 

I  doubt  not  your  honorable  Society  long  have  expected  to  hear  of  a  church 
built  and  endowed  by  one  of  your  members  in  these  parts  in  Shrewsbury, 
and  perhaps  may  be  surprized  to  hear  there  is  no  appearance  of  any  such 
thing,  or  any  Stick  of  timber  or  Stone  prepared  for  it,  as  I  can  learn,  after  a 
diligent  enquiry  into  that  affair.  There  was  some  beginnings  of  a  church  at 
Salem  which,  I  doubt  not,  had  my  Lord  Clarendon  continued,  had  long  before 


171 1 .]  66 

this  time  been  finished,  and  an  appearance  of  a  growing  congregation,  but  I 
am  obliged  to  bewail  the  loss  of  all  preparations  towards  that  Building,  and 
that  the  auditors  there  are  now  joined  either  with  the  Presbyterians,  Baptists, 
or  Quakers. 

I  am  informed  that  Col1  Quarry,  Col1  Evans,  &c.,  hath  already  wrote  to 
your  honorable  Society  in  relation  to  the  Revd  Mr.  Henderson,  who  was  sent 
to  succeed  Mr.  Crawford  in  Dover  River  in  Kent  County  in  Pensylvania.  I 
am  sorry  those  people  should  refuse  so  great  a  blessing  in  rejecting  his  mis- 
sion.        *         *         * 

If  you  would  favor  us  with  your  Interest  to  get  him  settled  at  Hopewell, 
which  is  no  otherwise  supplied  than  by  the  favor  of  Captain  Paston's  permit- 
ting Mr.  May  to  assist  us  whilst  his  ship  abides  in  these  parts,  which  I  hope 
may  be  the  easier  obtained  since  New  Castle  is  already  supplied  by  the  Rev- 
erend Mr.  Sinclair  and  Chester  as  we  are  informed  by  Mr.  Ross. 

Sir,  Yours,  &c., 

J.  BASS. 


Mr.  EVANS  to  the  Secretary. 


Burlington,  19th  of  Feby,  171 1. 
Hond  Sir, 

I  would  not  omit  any  opportunity  of  cultivating  that  friendship  and  esteem 
that  you  have  always  been  pleased  to  honor  me  withal,  which  I  hope  it  will  not 
be  in  the  power  of  any  secret  insinuations  to  lessen.  It  is  the  unhappiness  of 
such  as  are  placed  in  these  parts  of  the  world  that  the  more  dilligent  they  are 
in  the  service  of  the  Church,  the  more  Zealous  for  the  honor  of  God  and  sal- 
vation of  men,  the  more  careful  to  exterminate  profaneness  and  immorality, 
the  more  and  greater  enemys  they  create  to  themselves,  and  I  wish  I  had  not 
so  much  to  fear  that  myself  as  well  as  some  other  of  my  reverend  Bretheren 
have  not  for  these  causes  lain  under  the  misrepresentations  of  some  persons 
who  think  they  cannot  better  vindicate  themselves  than  by  aspersing  of  others. 
However,  since  my  own  conscience  cannot  accuse  me  of  having  given  any 


67  [J712- 

cause,  I  shall  always  depend  on  the  justice  both  of  yourself  and  the  Honor- 
able Society  not  to  entertain  or  believe  any  thing  against  me  till  such  time 
as  I  have  heard  the  suggestions  and  they  have  heard  my  defence.  God  be 
thanked,  notwithstanding  the  rage  and  malice  of  the  devil  and  his  instruments, 
our  Church  has  this  year  been  much  enlarged  and  our  Congregation  increased 
and  I  doubt  not  through  the  blessing  of  God  such  a  foundation  of  true  reli- 
gion and  piety  will  be  laid  amongst  us  that  the  Gates  of  Hell  shall  not  prevail 
against.  I  have  just  grounds  to  believe  that  that  Gentleman  that  hath  endeav- 
oured to  misrepresent  me  to  you  hath  in  that  case  rewarded  me  Evil  for 
Good.  True  it  is  when  he  promised  obedience  to  the  Orders  of  the  Society 
and  declared  his  resolutions  of  doing  what  he  could  for  the  service  of  the 
Church  which  he  had  been  the  unhappy  occasion  of  creating  some  disorders 
in,  I  thought  his  professions  real  &  charitably  believed  that  I  might  depend  on 
his  performing  his  promises,  &  'twas  not  without  grief  that  in  other  letters 
I  was  obliged  to  unsay  those  good  things  I  had  wrote  of  him  &  as  it  was  just 
in  me  to  write  in  his  favor  when  I  believed  him  real  in  his  promises,  so  it  was 
equally  as  just  to  give  an  other  representation  when  he  had  failed  in  his  per- 
formances. I  hope,  Sir,  that  I  have  so  behaved  myself  that  'twill  not  be  in 
the  power  of  accusations,  without  hearing  of  both  parties,  to  lessen  your 
esteem  of  him,  Dear  Sir,  who  remains  with  all  imaginable  regard, 
Your  affectionate  and  humble  Serv', 

EVAN  EVANS. 


M\  ROSS  to  M".  CHAMBERLATNE. 

Chester,  2  2d  Jany,  1711-12. 
Hond  Sir, 

I  hope  my  letter  to  you  by  the  way  of  Lisbone  has  come  safe  to  your 
hands  long  'ere  now.  I  send  you  this  for  your  further  assurance  of  my  hearty 
endeavours  and  resolution  faithfully  to  discharge  the  great  trust  reposed  in 
me  by  my  honorable  Benefactors.  I  retain  a  just  sense  of  their  favor  in 
restoring  me  to  their  mission,  which  is  so  great  an  obligation  considering  the 


171 2].  68 

endeavors  of  some  to  prevent  it,  that  it  cannot  but  move  me  to  comply  at  all 
times  with  their  wise  orders  and  directions. 

The  number  of  these  who  profess  themselves  members  of  our  Church  in 
the  County  of  Chester  is  but  small  in  comparison  of  the  mischievous  brood  of 
Quakers  here.  The  seeds  of  Apostacy  have  taken  deep  root  and  that  fatal 
Weed  of  Quakerism  is  cultivated  with  the  utmost  skill  and  tenderness,  so  that 
it  is  not  like  to  fade  all  on  a  sudden.  This  novelty  is  so  fashionable  &  pre- 
vailing in  this  place  that  some  of  those  who  own  themselves  Church  people 
are  strangely  bewitched  &  lull'd  into  an  indifferency  about  the  baptism  of 
their  Infants,  and  notwithstanding  what  I  could  offer,  both  in  public  &  in  pri- 
vate, to  cure  this  infection,  yet  I  cannot  say  that  I  have  succeeded  so  well  as 
might  be  reasonably  expected.  But  Paul  may  plant  and  Apollos  water,  but 
God  giveth  the  increase.  Some  small  tracts  concerning  baptism  would  be  of 
great  use  to  me  if  disperst  up  and  down  the  country,  wherefore  I  hope  the 
Society  may  see  cause  to  send  me  a  parcel  of  books  upon  this  controversy, 
especially  since  I  had  no  treatises  either  great  or  small  bestowed  upon  me  at 
my  readmission  into  their  service  excepting  a  Volume  of  Doctor  Moore's 
which  is  lost. 

'Tis  so  very  low  with  me  by  reason  of  my  being  taken  into  France  that  it 
is  not  posssible  for  me  to  surmount  the  difficulties  I  am  at  present  involved  in 
without  the  compassion  and  special  aid  of  the  Society.  I  am  obliged  to  live 
very  much  below  my  Character  because  my  salary  is  burthened  with  some  debts 
which  I  was  necessitated  to  contract  to  redeem  me  out  of  France,  as  well  as 
to  bear  my  charges  in  my  Voyage  to  this  Country.  The  hundred  pounds 
which  Mr.  Hodges  paid  me  for  my  Arrears  was  laid  out,  as  he  knows,  to  sat- 
isfy my  protested  Bills  &  Mr.  Joden,  except  thirty  pounds  which  was  expended 
in  furnishing  me  with  clothes.  Nay,  I  was  so  poor  when  I  left  London,  after 
my  return  out  of  France,  that  I  could  not  purchase  what  to  this  day  I  want 
very  much,  namely,  a  (ew  useful  books,  so  that  when  all  things  is  put  together 
I  am  really  an  object  of  the  Society's  pity.  To  them,  therefore,  I  presume  to 
make  my  case  known  in  consequence  of  doing  for  me  as  my  condition 
undoubtedly  requires.  I  left  a  memorial  of  my  misfortunate  case  to  be  laid 
before  them  by  Mr.  Cordiner,  whom  I  have  intrusted  with  my  power  of 
attorney,  the  success  whereof  I  hope  to  be  informed  of  when  it  shall  best 
stand  with  your  convenience  to  write  to  me.  I  am  in  the  greatest  sincerity, 
Hond  Sir,  Your  very  much  obliged  &  most  h'ble  Serv'. 

GEO.  ROSS. 


69  [J712- 

M\  ROSS  to  the  SECRETARY. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Chester,  Pensil :  30th  Decr,  171 2. 
Sir, 

Some  weeks  ago  I  had  the  honor,  as  well  as  satisfaction, 
among  the  other  Missionaries  in  these  parts,  to  read  your  obliging  letter  to 
the  Clergy  of  the  province  of  New  York.  I  am  sorry  I  have  missed  a  late 
opportunity  from  the  head  Town  of  the  said  province  to  express  my  humble 
and  hearty  thanks  to  the  Hon'ble  members  of  the  Society  for  propagating  the 
Gospel  for  so  endearing  a  presage  of  an  agreeable  correspondence  settled  by 
their  Honors  between  you  and  their  Missionarys. 

The  flock  committed  to  my  charge  is  indeed  small,  but  God  be  thanked, 
generally  sound,  which  is  as  much  as  can  be  well  expected,  considering  the 
Genius  of  the  bulk  of  the  people  among  whom  we  live.  I  need  not  tell  you 
that  Quakerism  is  generally  professed  in  Pensilvania,  and  in  no  County  of 
that  province  does  the  haughty  Tribe  of  that  persuasion  appear  more  rampant 
than  where  I  reside,  there  being  by  a  modest  computation  20  Quakers,  besides 
other  Dissenters,  in  the  County  of  Chester,  for  one  true  Church  man. 

Thus  Quakerism  has  number  and  interest  on  its  side  ;  and  the  true  relig- 
ion is  crush'd  as  unfashionable  and  impoverishing,  whilst  its  proselites  gain  but 
a  few  friends  by  their  change  and  draw  upon  themselves  the  certain  displeas- 
ure of  many  implacable  enemies.  This  is  the  reason  why  many  who  are 
thought  well  wishers  to  the  Church  are  either  neuters  in  Religion,  or  for  the 
present  lean  to  the  strongest  and  most  gainful  side.  I  baptized  last  quarter 
of  a  year  but  two  adults,  formerly  Quakers,  &  8  Infants.  I  am  sorry  my 
endeavours  are  not  attended  with  greater  success,  But  I  hope  the  wise  Board 
will  consider  that  Paul  may  plant  and  Apollos  water,  but  God  giveth  the 
increase.  I  will  not  presume  to  compare  my  labours  with  the  endeavours  of 
the  meanest  of  their  Missionaries :  but  this  I  can  safely  say,  that  since  the 
time  I  began  to  enjoy  my  health  in  this  Country  as  I  do  now,  blessed  be  God, 
I  have  not  knowingly  missed  an  opportunity  to  carry  on  the  design  of  my 
mission  and  to  contend  for  the  faith  which  was  once  delivered  to  the  Saints.    I 


1712.]  7° 

preach  at  three  several  places,  namely,  at  Concord  near  the  known  skirts  of 
the  County  on  the  last  Thursday  of  every  month,  at  Chichester,  a  village  on 
the  River  Delaware,  once  a  quarter  on  a  Sunday,  and  all  the  other  Sundays  in 
the  year  at  the  Chester,  where  our  Church  is  built.  The  Catechising  of  Chil- 
dren is  what  I  endeavour  not  to  be  deficient  in,  being  sensible,  by  experience, 
of  the  great  advantage  that  accrues  to  Religion  from  a  diligent  discharge  of 
that  main  part  of  the  Ministry.  I  follow  the  Method  of  the  pious  and  great 
prelate,  Dr.  Beveridge,  in  this  exercise.  To  this  purpose  I  have  studied  to 
make  myself  Master  of  his  Excellent  exposition  of  our  Catechism,  which,  I 
pray  God,  may  be  applied  by  me  with  the  same  Christian  disposition  that  he 
composed  it  withal.         *         *         * 

Sir,  your  very  humble  Serv1, 

GEO.  ROSS. 


The  CLERGY  of  the  PROVINCE  of  PENS1L- 
VAN  I  A  to  the  SOCIETY. 


May  it  please  the  Hon'ble  Society, 

Your  Letter  sent  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Henderson  to  the  Clergy  of  New 
York,  New  Jersey  and  Philadelphia,  in  answer  to  a  Memorial  of  the  said 
Clergy,  touching  the  parsonage  house,  Glebe  and  Salary  of  the  Church  at 
Jamaica  on  Long  Island,  &c.,  has  been  by  him  communicated  to  us  of  the 
province  of  Pensilvania,  and  tho'  we  are  not  so  nearly  concerned  in  the  affairs 
of  that  Church  as  our  Bretheren  in  the  province  of  New  York :  yet  in  the  said 
letter  we  beg  leave  to  observe  the  Hon'ble  Society's  most  laudable  Zeal  and 
pious  care  for  maintaining  and  promoting  the  interests  of  this  poor  infant 
Church  in  general,  as  well  as  that  of  Jamaica  in  particular.  The  assurance 
given  us  of  your  patronage  and  protection  whilst  our  conduct  is  peaceable, 
sober  and  unblameable,  such  obligations  as  these,  call  for  the  tender  of  our 
most  hearty  acknowledgements,  we  therefore  crave  the  Hon'ble  Board's  fa- 
vourable acceptance  of  this  return  of  our  most  sincere  thanks.  We  are  very 
sensible  of  the  security  we  enjoy  under  your  countenance  and  protection, 
which  adds  new  Life  to  our  Zeal  and  caution  to  our  management,  and  as  we 


71  [i  712. 

perswade  ourselves  that  the  Hon'ble  Society  will  easily  believe  that  we  have  a 
grateful  sense  of  their  favours  to  us,  as  well  as  their  other  missionarys,  so  we 
hope  the  assurance  we  do  give  you  here  of  our  compliance  with  the  two  rules 
so  particularly  recommended  to  us,  will  meet  with  a  kind  reception.  We  shall 
with  our  utmost  endeavours  make  it  appear  as  we  have  hitherto  done,  that  we 
have  a  true  Christian  sense  of  the  duty  we  owe  to  the  authority  set  over  us, 
resolving  by  our  practice  to  recommend  the  same  to  those  that  hear  us.  As 
touching  a  Brotherly  correspondence  amongst  ourselves,  we  have  unanimously 
agreed  for  the  promoting  of  the  same  to  meet  four  times  a  year,  and  to  make 
our  meeting  more  acceptable  to  the  people,  we  have  concluded  that  a  Sermon 
be  preached  at  every  meeting  by  one  of  our  Number.  Thus  we  hope  to 
mantain  the  dignity  and  gravity  of  our  function  by  aiming  in  all  we  do  to 
advance  religion,  by  laying  hold  on  all  opportunities  to  edifie  those  over  whom 
we  are  set. 

And  as  we  desire  to  return  our  thanks  for  your  favour  and  care  for  the 
Church  and  Clergy  in  these  parts  in  general,  so  in  a  particular  manner  for 
your  application  to  her  Majesty's  explication  of  her  instructions  to  her  Gover- 
nors with  respect  to  appeals.  This  we  doubt  not  if  granted  will  be  of  sing- 
ular service  to  the  Church,  and  prove  a  means  to  redress  those  aggrievances 
Mr.  Poyer  has  so  long  laboured  under.  We  hope  by  your  endeavours  that 
this  Gentleman  will  speedily  recover  his  just  rights  of  which  he  has  hitherto 
been  so  violently  deprived,  and  as  we  thus  interest  ourselves  for  him,  so  we 
humbly  presume  to  apply  ourselves  to  your  venerable  body  in  behalf  of  two 
of  our  Brethren  in  this  province,  namely,  Mr.  Ross  and  Mr.  Clubb,  of  whose 
circumstances  your  Honors  cannot  but  be  well  apprized.  Mr.  Ross,  in  his 
return  from  England,  had  the  misfortune  of  being  taken  into  France,  and 
thereby  he  considerably  suffered  without  any  hopes  of  redress  but  what  he 
expects  from  your  Charity :  we  therefore  humbly  pray  you  would  please  to 
take  his  case  into  consideration  and  Grant  him  some  allowance  to  recover  him 
out  of  his  necessitous  circumstances  and  to  discharge  the  debts  he  has  been 
obliged  to  Contract  to  enable  him  to  return  to  his  family.  The  Society,  with- 
out doubt,  are  very  sensible  that  the  poverty  of  a  Clergyman  is  apt  to  bring 
him  into  contempt,  and. so  to  render  his  spiritual  endeavours  the  less  effectual; 
and  tho'  this  poor  Gentleman  bears  his  necessity  very  discreetly,  yet  we  think 
his  relief  upon  that  account  should  not  the  longer  be  protracted. 

The   case  of  Mr.  Clubb  stands   thus:     He  was,  about   15   months  ago, 


1712.]  72 

ordered  by  you  to  Apoquinomy,  whither,  in  submission  to  your  determination, 
He  immediately  repaired,  tho'  both  contrary  to  his  own  inclinations,  and  with- 
out any  conveniency  to  accommodate  his  family  in  that  place,  and  he  being 
still  destitute  of  any  such  accommodation,  and  very  much  impaired  in  his 
health  since  he  went  to  reside  there,  we  beg  leave  to  lay  his  request  before 
your  Hon'ble  Board,  viz :  That  he  may  either  be  appointed  Missionary  for 
his  Countrymen,  the  Welsh,  at  Radnor,  who  have  sent  several  addresses  for  a 
Minister,  and  will,  we  are  sure,  kindly  receive  him,  they  being  by  inclination 
as  well  as  experience  of  his  good  services  already  done  them,  extremely  desir- 
ous of  his  settling  among  them,  or  otherwise  to  permit  him  to  return  home 
and  to  reap  the  benefit  of  that  standing  order  concerning  your  Missioners, 
viz  :  That  the  Salary  of  every  Missionary  who  is  not  dismissed  the  Service 
for  some  misdemeanour,  shall  continue  one  year  and  no  longer  after  the  Soci- 
ety have  resolved  at  their  Board  to  dismiss  such  a  person  from  their  service. 
Multitudes  of  the  Welch  people  in  these  parts,  who  are  generally  very  igno- 
rant, have  fallen  away  to  the  Quakers,  Anabaptists,  Sabbatarians,  &c.  But 
these  at  Radnor  have  been  preserved  steady  to  the  Church  by  the  means  of 
Mr.  Evans  and  Mr.  Clubb,  who  preach  and  converse  with  them  in  their  own 
Language.  We  therefore  submit  it  to  your  pious  consideration  whether  you 
will  not  out  of  your  usual  charity  to  the  Souls  of  Men  be  pleased  to  furnish 
these  poor  people  with  a  minister  which  if  you  think  fit  to  do  we  are  of 
opinion  Mr.  Clubb  will  be  a  very  proper  person  for  them. 

We  cannot  omitt  to  declare  here  the  satisfactory  prospect  we  have  of  the 
Honorable  Society's  successfull  endeavours  for  settling  Bishops  and  Bishop- 
ricks  in  these  parts.  Every  day  affords  us  fresh  instances  of  the  great  neces- 
sity and  want  of  those  spiritual  persons  and  of  the  impossibility  of  the 
Churches  increase  without  them.  We  have  great  hopes  now  that  since  there 
has  at  last  appeared  so  great  Zeal  at  your  Honorable  Board  for  carrying  on 
so  glorious  a  work,  it  will  not  only  be  effected  but  attended  with  this  great 
advantage,  viz :  the  settling  of  the  Church  here  on  the  same  footing  it  is  in 
England.  We  doubt  not  but  the  Hon'ble  Society  upon  due  application  to  the 
Queen  and  Parliament  may  procure  a  law  to  that  purpose ;  and  what  a  glori- 
ous work  would  it  be  thus  to  establish  the  Christian  Religion  in  its  primitive 
purity  in  these  dark  corners  of  the  Earth.  May  God  Almighty  succeed  the 
unwearied  endeavours  of  your  Hon'ble  Body  to  effect  so  great  a  service  for 


73  [i7H- 

the  Church,  and  may  the  many  Souls  that  may  have  been  by  your  Charity,  be 
your  Joy  here  and  crown  of  rejoycing  hereafter. 
We  are  with  all  diffidence, 

May  it  please  the  Hon'ble  Society, 

Your  Honors  most  h'b'le  and 

fathful  Missionarys, 

Evan  Evans, 
John  Talbot, 
John  Clubb, 
George  Ross, 
John  Humphreys, 
Jacob  Henderson. 


MEMORIAL  of  the  Rev"  M\  EVANS. 


To  the  most  Illastrous  Society  for  Propagating  y1  Gospel  in  Foreign  parts. 
The  most  humble  Memorial  of  Evan  Evans,  clerk,  Minister  of  Philadelphia  in 
Pennsylvania. 
The  said  Mr.  Evans  being  about  fourteen  years  ago  sent  over  to  America 
by  the  late  Lord  Bp  of  London  does  with  all  humility  humbly  beg  leave  to 
represent  that  he  has  by  the  blessing  of  God  in  his  honest  endeavours  raised 
a  very  considerable  congregation  in  his  own  Parish  and  omitted  no  opportu- 
nity and  spared  no  pains  in  ministring  to  the  spiritual  necessities  of  several 
other  parts  of  that  Province  where  they  were  destitute  of  Ministers  as  appears 
by  many  credentials  and  Letters  testimonial  both  from  the  Clergy  and  Laity 
of  Pennsylvania  and  West  Jersey  ready  to  be  produced  upon  occasion.  He 
also  further  craves  leave  to  say  that  he  has  been  not  altogether  unsuccessful 
in  promoting  ye  building  of  Churches  in  the  Province  aforesaid  amidst  abun- 
dance of  opposition  and  trouble,  and  that  his  own  Church  at  Philadelphia 
becoming  too  narrow  for  those  numbers  of  Proselytes  which  by  him  were 
daily  gained  over  has  been  considerably  enlarged  to  what  it  was  before  his 
time  by  an  addition  of  two  new  Isles  to  it. 


I7I4-]  74 

From  hence  it  appears  that  his  congregation  there  at  present  is  very 
numerous,  and  humanely  speaking,  still  likely  to  encrease,  and  in  regard  it  is 
not  possible  for  him  to  ^form  all  the  parts  of  his  duty  by  preaching  twice 
every  Sunday  and  reading  prayers  thrice  on  that  and  once  on  every  Litainy 
and  Festival  day,  by  administering  the  Sacrament  once  a  month  and  baptizing 
persons  of  all  ages,  visiting  the  sick  and  burying  the  dead  in  that  populous 
and  frequented  place  where  he  has  the  greatest  congregation  upon  the  conti- 
nent as  may  appear  from  his  testimonials  ready  to  be  laid  before  the  Society. 

He  therefore  most  humbly  prayes  that  an  assistant  may  be  allowed  him,  it 
being  otherwise  impossible  for  him  to  discharge  his  duty  as  he  ought:  and  he 
hopes  this  favour  will  be  the  more  readily  granted  him  in  regard  he  is  very 
desirous  and  willing  to  "$fect  that  work  as  much  as  in  him  lies  which  he  has  so 
happily  begun  and  carried  on  hitherto  in  that  remote  part  of  the  world.  Had 
the  Legislature  been  in  proper  hands  it  is  more  than  probable  he  would  have 
applied  to  that  for  an  assistant  without  giving  the  Society  the  least  trouble 
about  one.  But  it  being  well  known  upon  what  foot  the  Government  now 
stands  in  that  Province  there  is  no  hopes  of  gaining  a  point  of  this  kind  till  a 
more  favourable  opportunity  offers  since  in  the  course  of  so  many  years  he 
has  not  been  hitherto  able  by  all  his  endeavours  to  procure  himself  any  legal 
Salary  for  the  support  of  himself  &  family  more  than  the  sum  of  ^50  ^ 
annum  which  her  Majesty  has  been  graciously  pleased  to  allow  him. 

EVAN  EVANS. 


M\  CLUBB  to  the  SECRETARY. 


Oxford,  Pennsylvania,  October  6,  1 7 1 4. 
May  it  please  Your  Honr, 

My  safe  arrival  at  Port  Philadelphia  was  (thanks  be  to  God),  upon  the 
24th  of  Augst  after  a  long  passage  of  13  weeks  and  the  bearing  of  several 
difficulties  which  the  tediousness  of  our  Voyage  and  the  number  of  our  hands 
aboard  was  in  a  great  measure  the  occasion  of,  During  which  time  I  faithfully 
performed  my  duty  dayly  in   reading  prayers,   morning  and   evening,   and 


75  [i7i4- 

preaching  every  Lord's  day  in  which  offices  of  devotion  I  found  these  Dissen- 
ters (that  were  on  board  wth  us),  always  willing  and  ready  to  joyn  and  I 
believe  would  do  so  every  where  else  if  they  were  not  prevented  by  those  that 
are  their  leaders. 

In  a  few  days  after,  when  my  effects  were  delivered  me,  I  entered  upon 
my  charge  at  Radnor  and  Oxford,  where  the  people  were  well  satisfied  and 
ready  to  receive  me,  and  Mr.  Humphreys  as  willing  to  go  to  Chester  as  the 
Society  were  pleased  to  appoint  him  their  Missionary  in  that  place. 

The  people  of  Radnor  are  very  thankful  to  ye  Honble  Corporation  that  you 
were  pleased  at  last  to  consider  them  and  send  them  the  Minister  they  desired 
for  ye  welfare  of  their  Souls.  Their  promise  is  now  much  after  the  same  rate 
wth  that  mentioned  in  their  address  by  me,  viz1,  of  making  what  Provision  they 
are  able  for  their  Minister  tho'  no  certain  yearly  stipend. 

They  met  me  unanimously  upon  the  day  appointed,  viz1,  the  7th  of  the  last 
month,  and  at  the  same  time  heartily  engaged  themselves  to  build  a  handsome 
stone  Church.  They  subscribed  that  day  a  tolerable  sum  to  the  carrying  of 
it  on  and  obliged  themselves  to  make  it  good  and  for  the  rest  I  shall  use  all  the 
means  I  am  able  to  effect  it  by  collection.  Indeed  they  are  a  large  Congrega- 
tion of  well  affected  people  to  the  principles  of  the  Church  and  deserved  your 
charitable  consideration  long  before. 

As  for  the  people  of  Oxford  they  are  still  indebted  for  some  parts  of  the 
money  they  had  to  finish  their  church.  They  are  also  very  grateful  to  your 
Illustrious  body  for  your  favour  in  committing  the  care  of  them  to  me  ;  again 
they  say  they  will  do  what  they  can  for  me  when  they  are  discharged  from 
their  incumbrances. 

In  the  mean  time  I  am  truly  thankful  to  the  Honble  Society  for  their  benev- 
olence and  satisfyed  wth  what  the  good  will  of  these  two  poor  Congregations 
will  afford.  I  shall  by  the  help  of  God  with  all  fidelity  contribute  the  best  of 
my  endeavours  for  the  good  of  their  souls,  the  consciencious  discharge  of  my  own 
duty  and,  I  hope,  the  satisfaction  of  my  superiours  and  munificent  Patrons  at 
home. 

I  humbly  presume  (that  as  I  understood  some  small  time  before  I  came 
away  Mr.  Lasinby  had  given  some  books,  viz :  Bibles  and  of  them  that  are 
titled  "  The  Whole  Duty  of  Man,"  to  be  disposed  by  the  Society  in  the  Plan- 
to  tions,  where  their  Missionaries  are),  to  beg  of  your  Honble  Body  that  you 
will  be  pleased  to  bestow  upon  us  what  portion  you  think  fit  of  each,  there 


I7M-]  76 

being  here  a  great  many  youth  wholly  unprovided  of  Bibles  and  none  to  be 
purchased  but  at  such  excessive  rates  as  they  are  not  able  to  comply  with. 

For  which  your  generous  charity  and  all  your  other  liberal  benefactions 
that  God  Almighty  would  bless  your  pious  designs  here,  and  reward  you  with 
the  blessings  of  this  life  and  the  felicity  of  eternity,  is  ye  hearty  prayer  of, 

May  it  please  your  Honr,  &c., 

JOHN  CLUBB. 


M\  HUMPHREYS  to  the  SECRETARY. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Chester,  October  12th,  1 714. 

I  recd  two  letters  from  you  by  ye  hands  of  the  Revd  Mr.  Clubb,  one  relat- 
ing to  some  resolutions  of  the  Venerable  Society  concerning  the  payment  of 
our  Bill  and  certain  new  instructions ;  the  other  equally  unexpected  and  sur- 
prising, containing  an  order  for  my  removal  to  this  place.  However  displeas- 
ing this  may  have  been  to  me  I  have  without  a  murmur  obeyed  it  consonant 
to  that  resolution  I  firmly  fixed  upon  when  I  first  engaged  in  this  service  of 
yielding  prompt  and  exact  obedience  to  whatever  the  circumstances  of  the 
Venerable  Society  shall  render  necessary,  for  I  do  not  so  much  regard  the 
place  whither,  as  the  business  upon  which,  I  am  sent.  I  am  very  thankful  to 
the  Venerable  Society  for  ye  addition  of  ,£10  to  their  Salary,  but  I  humbly 
take  leave  to  remonstrate  that  it  is  but  a  transition  from  ^80  ^  annum  to 
£€>o.  My  stipend  before  my  removal  was  ^50  from  the  Venerable  Society 
and  I  had  £^°  sterling  from  the  crown  as  Schoolmaster  at  Philadelphia,  wch 
office  I  am  obliged  to  resign,  it  being  necessary  that  I  should  reside  here 
where  my  church  is,  being  dayly  called  upon  to  attend  one  business  or  other 
and  we  all  at  present  have  enough  to  do  to  visit  sick  people  and  bury  the  dead. 
I  buried  two  yesterday,  one  here,  and  another  six  Miles  off,  for  at  present  a 
mortal  distemper  rages  among  us.  I  fully  acquit  my  Venerable  Patrons  of 
of  any  injustice   towards  me  in  my   removal,  having  reason  to  believe  an 


77  Li7M. 

advantage  was  designed  to  me  thereby,  but  I  mention  the  crown's  allowance 
which  I  had  as  Schoolmaster,  fearing  they  were  not  apprized  of  it  at  the  time 
they  were  pleased  to  make  the  addition  of  £10,  believing  if  they  had  they 
would  have  gone  a  step  higher  to  £jo.  I  am  satisfied  however  and  have 
calmly  and  promptly  submitted  to  their  determination,  which  I  hope  will  be 
accounted  so  meritorious  as  to  prevail  with  the  Venble  Society  to  enlarge  my 
circumstances  when  their  own  will  give  them  leave,  but  I  refer  this  entirely  to 
their  prudence.  I  must  pay  house  rent  here,  and  no  other  thing  is  cheaper 
than  at  Philadelphia,  and  if  ^80  and  the  additional  benefits  of  the  School  was 
scarcely  competent  there  &  frugally  manag'd  too,  I  shall  find  ^60  so  narrow 
as  to  afford  no  hospitality  which  cannot  be  avoided  without  reflection.  Mr. 
Ross  has  £70  at  New  Castle  &  the  people  are  obliged  to  make  it  up  ^100 
sterling.  The  labour  here  is  as  great  as  there  and  the  people  less  able  to 
contribute  and  very  little  will  they  give  the  first  year,  for  of  so  long  standing 
must  their  consideration  of  our  ^formances  and  humour  be,  before  any  thing 
comes  from  them.  Add  to  all  this  that  I  am  come  to  this  place  under  the 
great  disadvantage  of  the  people's  resentment  for  the  removal  of  Mr.  Ross 
contrary  to  his  desire  and  without  his  privity  which  in  his  farewell  Sermon  he 
told  the  people  to  be  his  case.  The  state  of  the  Church  here  I  am  not  as  yet 
able  to  transmit  to  the  Venerable  Society  farther  than  this,  that  it  is  a  neat 
decent  church  with  a  considerable  number  of  people  but  very  few  Communi- 
cants. I  am  obliged  to  ride  nine  Miles  one  Sunday  in  the  month  to  preach  at 
a  place  called  Concord  and  one  Sunday  in  the  Quarter  at  Markerhook  about 
four  Miles  from  hence.  One  of  the  inclosed  papers  is  an  account  of  what 
Mr.  Ross  surrendered  to  me  at  his  departure  from  hence  and  the  other  the 
Govrs  Certificate  of  our  removal  to  our  respective  Cures. 

from  a  tender  and  affectionate  regard  to  the  welfare  of  the  Church  at 
Oxford,  which  shall  never  leave  me  tho'  I  am  removed  from  it,  I  must  neces- 
sarily take  notice  to  the  Venble  supporters  of  the  Church  in  these  parts  under 
God  of  one  thing  which  I  am  afraid  will  unravel  much  of  the  pains  taken  at 
that  place,  which  is,  the  obligation  upon  Mr.  Clubb  to  divide  his  labours 
between  the  Welch  and  the  Congregation  of  Oxford  Church ;  among  the 
latter  there  has  been  always  a  great  number  of  Quakers  &  Anabaptists,  but 
they  are  well  enough  secured  against  those  pests.  The  danger  I  am  appre- 
hensive of  arises  from  the  late  intrusion  of  a  dissenting  Presbyterian  Teacher 
who  came  into  those  parts  last  year  from  Wales  and  bought  a  settlement  at 


17H-]  78 

about  the  distance  of  two  Miles  from  the  Church.  He  preaches  every  Sunday 
at  his  own  house  and  is  very  industrious  to  prevail  with  his  neighbours  to 
hear  him  and  many  people  there  are  so  disposed  to  variety  of  Doctrine  that 
all  the  diligence  I  could  exert  in  warning  my  people  against  the  schism  and 
preaching  every  Sunday  in  my  church  could  not  prevent  but  that  some  weak 
people  would  follow  him,  especially  if  they  had  the  pretence  of  bad  weather 
to  paliate  their  staying  from  Church  &  God  knows  what  the  consequence  will 
be  of  Mr.  Clubb's  preaching  to  the  Welch  two  Sundays  in  a  month  which  I 
hear  is  his  design,  I  have  imparted  my  thoughts  of  the  matter  to  him  and  he 
seemed  to  concur  with  me  in  the  apprehension  of  the  danger.  I  hope  this 
will  procure  a  fresh  instruction  to  him  and  I  humbly  beg  the  Venerable  Society 
may  be  assured,  that  no  care  or  industry  shall  be  wilfully  omitted  by  me  to 
answer  the  end  of  my  Mission  from  which  I  utterly  exclude  any  regard  to  my 
own  temporal  Interest  more  than  what  is  barely  necessary,  being  resolved  by 
the  help  of  God  to  give  myself  up  to  serve  that  glorious  design  in  which  my 
Patrons  have  piously  embarked.     *      *     *     * 

I  am,  Sir,  &c., 

JOHN  HUMPHREYS. 


An  Account  or  History  of  the  Building  of  Sl  Paul's  Church 
in  Chester,  in  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  Enclosed  in 
M\  Ross's  Letter  of  the  2\st  of  jfune,  17 14. 


This  Church  being  49  foot  in  length  &  26  in  breadth  was  founded  by 
divine  providence  in  July,  1702  ;  &  on  S1  Paul's  day  after  was  opened  with  the 
usual  sollemnity  of  a  Sermon  wch  was  preached  by  ye  Revd  Mr.  George  Heith, 
then  Missionary  from  the  Honble  Society  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 
Foreign  parts. 

The  ground  on  which  this  small  but  compact  fabrick  of  Brick  is  built  was 
formerly  a  burying  place  belonging  to  a  Colony  of  Swedes,  the  first  Inhabi- 
tants of  this  Province  from  Europe,  which  Colony  had  likewise  a  Church 
endowed  wth  a  valuable  Glebe  not  far  from  this  place  of  burial,  but  of  this 


79  [iji4. 

building  there  remains  no  sign  at  this  day  ;  and  ye  Glebe  land  was  irreligiously 
sold  by  some  Swedes  under  ye  name  of  Churchwardens  to  a  powerful  Quaker 
who  now  plows  and  sows  it  &  disposes  of  it  at  his  pleasure,  but  'tis  hoped  his 
precarious  title  will  be  one  day  or  other  inquired  into  &  the  Church  restored 
to  her  just  right  again. 

In  this  Swedish  Dormitory,  James  Sandelands  of  Chester  (or  as  it  was  first 
called,  Uplands),  Merchant  a  man  of  good  reputation  in  the  Country  was  on 
account  of  affinity  interred  to  keep  up  the  memory  of  this  founder  of  a  grow- 
ing family ;  'twas  agreed  on  amongst  his  relations  that  his  grave,  as  also  that 
of  his  kindred,  and  family  who  were  or  might  be  buried  there  should  be  dis- 
tinguished &  set  a  part  from  the  rest  of  the  burying  ground  by  an  enclosure 
or  wall  of  Stone.  This  design  was  no  sooner  formed  &  noised  abroad  but 
'twas  happily  suggested  by  a  projecting  fellow  in  Town,  that  if  it  seemed  good 
to  Mr.  Sandeland's  relations,  the  intended  stone  wall  about  the  place  of  his 
interment  might  be  w"  some  what  more  charges,  carried  up,  &  formed  into  a 
small  chapel  or  Church.  This  new  motion  was  well  liked  of  by  ye  sd  relations 
&  encouraged  by  every  body  in  the  neighbourhood  that  wished  well  to  the 
Church  of  England  &  longed  to  see  its  primitive  worship  set  up  amongst 
them,  but  they  who  put  life  into  this  proposal  &  prosperously  brought  it  to 
pass  were  Jasper  Yeates,  Merchant  in  Chester,  and  James  Sandelands,  Son  to 
the  above  named  Mr.  Sandelands,  the  latter  of  which  two  Gentlemen,  besides 
other  gifts,  gave  some  land  to  enlarge  the  Church  yard,  but  the  former,  to  wit, 
Mr.  Yeates,  a  zealous  assertor  of  our  constitution  in  Church  &  State,  must  be 
allowed  to  have  been  the  main  promoter  of  the  founding  of  Sl  Paul's  upon 
Delaware.  It  would  be  to  long  particularly  to  relate  the  several  benefactors 
who  contributed  towards  the  building  of  the  sd  Church.  Those  of  its  Parish- 
ioners who  were  chief  helpers  to  carry  on  the  work  were  Jeremy  Collett 
Harmmam,  Henry  Peirce,  Ralph  Pill  &  Thos  Barnsly,  but  especially  Thos 
Powell,  ye  principal  supporter  of  the  Ministry  here,  for  ye  further  encouraging 
of  which  in  the  place  he  has  of  late  given  a  valuable  piece  of  ground  for  a 
Minister's  house ;  garden  &  other  conveniences,  too  long  to  be  inserted  in 
this  paper.  There  is  yet  one  generous  Patron  &  benefactor  to  ye  whole  infant 
Church  in  North  America,  'twere  a  crime  to  forget  or  conceal ;  we  mean  The 
Honble  Col1  Fran.  Nicholson,  Esqr,  whose  liberality  to  this  &  other  churches 
on  this  main  deserves  ye  highest  encomium.  We  may  safely  say  no  man 
parted  more  freely  wth  his  money  to  promote  the  Interest  of  the  Church  in 


1 714.]  80 

these  parts  nor  contributed  so  universally  towards  ye  erection  of  Christian 
Synagogues  in  different  &  distant  plantations  of  America. 

The  Church  of  Chester,  one  of  the  neatest  on  this  Continent,  being  thus 
founded  &  builded  ;  ye  inside  work  of  it,  was  soon  after  compleated  &  beau- 
tified mostly  at  the  charges  of  those  who  frequented  it  as  their  place  of  wor- 
ship and  now,  it  wants  no  decent  or  proper  furniture  (nor  has  it  done  for  some 
years),  to  grace  and  adorn  it.  A  handsome  pulpit  wth  a  communion  table, 
well  rail'd  in  &  set  out  wth  a  rich  cloth  &  a  neat  chalice  (besides  that  which 
was  given  by  Sr  Jeffry  Jeffryes),  both  bestowed  on  this  church  by  our  most 
gracious  Queen,  are  ye  garnishing  of  its  east  end  wch  by  no  means  are  dimin- 
ished or  obscured  by  ye  well  contrived  pews  wch  take  up  its  west  end  and  both 
sides  of  its  spacious  chancel. 

The  Revd  Mr.  Henry  Nicolls  a  man  of  good  parts  was  the  first  Missionary 
that  by  particular  appointment  of  ye  Honble  Society  officiated  in  this  Church. 
He  served  here  above  four  years  ;  having  entered  upon  the  charge  in  Febru- 
ary, 1 70*,  &  upon  his  move  to  Maryland  with,  as  we  are  told,  ye  Bp  of  Lon- 
don's leave,  ye  Revd  Mr.  George  Ross  then  Missionary  at  Newcastle  not  hav- 
ing his  health  at  that  place  settled  here  in  July,  1 708,  and  about  2  years  after, 
to  procure  the  Society's  aprobation  of  his  move,  he  went  for  England  &  hav- 
ing his  desire  he  returned  to  Chester  in  September,  1711,  where  he  still  con- 
tinues to   serve  the  Church  to  the  general  satisfaction  of  his   parishioners. 

Thus  you  have  a  brief  account  of  the  founding,  building  and  finishing  of  S' 
Paul's  Church  at  Chester  in  Pennsylvania  &  how  the  same  has  been  supplyed 
with  Missionaries  by  that  noble  body  for  propagating  the  faith ;  which  account 
or  history  as  it  contains  nothing  but  what  most  of  us  know  to  be  true  from 
our  own  experience ;  so  we  hope  our  honorable  Patrons,  the  Society,  will 
receive,  as  a  faithful  relation  of  the  building  of  our  Church  ;  &  as  such  trans- 
mit it  to  posterity  that  they  may  know  the  certainty  of  those  things  which  God 
hath  wrought  for  us  in  these  remote  parts  of  the  world  &  bless  his  holy  name 
for  the  same.  Given,  according  to  the  Society's  order,  under  our  hands  at 
Chester,  the  25th  day  of  June,  in  the  13th  year  of  our  Sovereign  Lady,  Anne, 
Queen  of  Great  Britain,  &c.,  Annoque  Domini,  1  71 4. 


8i  [17.5. 

NT.   JENNET  to  the  Society. 


Philadelphia,  Jany.  4,  171I. 
Right  Reverend  and  Right  Honourable  my  Lords  and  Gentlemen, 

As  well  because  I  am  your  missionary  as  because  you  are  most  capable  & 
without  all  doubt  most  willing  to  relieve  us,  I  think  it  my  duty  to  lay  before 
you  the  bleeding  condition  of  the  Church  at  Philadelphia,  to  which  you  were 
pleased  to  appoint  me  Curate.  Mr.  Philips  at  my  arrival  had  such  a  good 
character  here  &  was  so  well  beloved  by  the  People  that  it  was  impossible  to 
dispossess  him,  &  therefore  he  has  continued  to  do  the  duty  by  turns  with  me. 
All  degrees  of  the  People  were  very  fond  of  him  till  it  was  discovered  by  a 
Quaker  &  sworn  against  him  by  an  intimate  acquaintance  (with  whom  he 
never  had  any  disagreement),  before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  that  he  boasted 
that  he  had  debauched  three  of  the  chief  Gentlewomen  in  this  place.  Upon 
which  the  Husbands  &  Father  of  the  Ladys  have  put  him  in  Prison,  but  upon 
his  promise  to  leave  the  place  have  set  him  a  liberty  again  ;  But  instead  of 
performing  his  promise,  he  has  got  a  mob  on  his  side,  who  brake  windows 
and  threaten  ye  Lives  of  his  Prosecutors  upon  which  he  has  returned  to  his 
duty  &  threatens  to  maintain  his  usurpation  in  opposition  to  any  orders  from 
my  Lord  of  London  to  the  contrary.  This  has  been  so  affrontive  &  is  such  a 
reflection  to  our  Church  that  the  most  reputable  Families  belonging  to  it  are 
resolved  to  never  enter  into  it  while  he  stays.  In  this  desperate  state  of  the 
church  I  thought  it  most  proper  to  apply  to  your  venerable  bcdy  for  relief  not 
doubting  but  you  will  take  such  measures  as  will  effectually  secure  that  church 
which  you  have  all  along  so  industriously  endeavoured  to  propagate  in  America. 
I  subscribe  myself  with  all  dutiful  respect, 

Your  dutiful  Missionary  &  humble  Servant, 

ROBT.  JENNEY. 


1715.]  82 

M\   ROSS  to  the  Secretary, 


Newcastle,  the  20th  of  April,  171 5. 
Sir, 

I  have  used  my  utmost  diligence  to  acquaint  you  of  my  removal  to  New 
Castle  according  to  my  instructions  from  the  Hon'ble  Society,  I  am  very  well 
satisfied  with  my  being  settled  here  and  so  are  my  people  too  whose  growth 
in  grace  and  number  this  one  thing  may  assure  you  of,  namely  that  the  num- 
ber of  Communicants  from  Christmas  last  are  increased  from  18  to  36  & 
Galleries  are  to  be  built  with  all  expedition  in  our  Church  to  accommodate  the 
largeness  of  the  congregation. 

It  pities  me  to  see  the  desolate  condition  of  Apo-quenomy  Church  &  of 
that  of  Dover  Hundred ;  the  one  lyes  from  me,  about  24  miles  &  the  other 
about  60  and  both  of  them  I  have  more  than  once  supplied  since  my  coming 
to  New  Castle.  Many  of  the  church  at  Dover  Hundred  were  ready  to  revolt 
from  ye  church  because  they  think  themselves  neglected  by  the  Hon'ble  Board, 
indeed  they  were  about  settling  a  Presbyterian  Teacher  in  their  church ;  but 
that  design  was  entirely  ruined  by  my- preaching  amongst  them  that  very 
Sunday  the  Dissenters  were  to  take  possession  of  one  of  our  Pulpits,  They 
are  now  served  once  a  month  which  is  all  that  can  be  done  by  the  Clergy  of 
Pennsylvania  who  are  but  very  few  in  number,  I  pray  God  enable  you  to  pro- 
vide this  Province  &  territories  thereunto  adjoining  with  faithful  Pastors  to 
gather  together  the  several  dispersed  flocks  among  us.  For  my  own  part  I 
can  safely  say  I  spare  no  pains  or  trouble  to  discharge  my  mission  up  &  down 
the  country  where  there  is  most  occasion  &  I  can  reach  without  neglecting  to 
spend  it  in  the  service  of  our  common  Lord  &  Master.  I  have  nothing  fur- 
ther to  add  but  my  hearty  thanks  to  my  most  Honorable  Patrons  and  Bene- 
factors for  all  their  Favors  towards  me  and  sincere  Prayers  for  their  prosper- 
ity &  welfare, 

I  am  Sir,  your  very  humble  Servant, 

GEO.  ROSS. 


83  [1714- 

M\  ROSS  &>  Mr.  HUMPHREYS  to  the  SECRETARY. 


New  Castle,  ye  20th  April,  1 71 4. 
May  it  please  the  Noble  Society, 

It  is  with  great  sorrow  of  heart  that  we  do  lay  before  your  Venerable 
Board  the  Papers  herewith  enclosed  wherein  a  man  of  our  own  Order  is  set 
forth  in  dark  but  proper  colours.  The  person  we  mean  is  Mr.  Francis  Phillips 
once  your  missionarys  who  tho'  cashier'd  by  you,  a  censure  inflicted  upon  him 
for  misbehaviour  in  morals,  is  so  far  from  being  reclaimed  thereby  that  how 
innocently  soever  he  seemed  to  carry  himself  at  his  coming  to  Philadelphia  he 
has  of  late  stripped  himself  of  his  disguise  and  plainly  discovered  the  foulness  of 
his  heart  by  cursing,  swearing,  lying,  defaming,  &  abominable  unholiness — We 
are  really  ashamed  to  descend  into  particulars  or  to  lay  before  you  the  several 
charges  made  good  against  him — We  humbly  offer  to  your  perusal  our  Letter  to 
R'  Revd  Diocesan  &  ye  Affidavits  which  were  made  at  our  meeting  against  Phil- 
lips. That  we  be  not  further  tedious  to  our  Hon'ble  Patrons  upon  so  ungrateful 
a  subject,  we  implore  your  assistance  to  remove  so  profligate  a  man  from  his 
Post  which  calls  for  a  Person  whose  example  instructs  as  well  as  his  preaching. 

And  now  upon  this  occasion  permit  us  with  all  due  submission  to  repeat 
our  earnest  request  for  a  Bishop  to  reside  among  us.  Alas  ?  what  devasta- 
tions have  and  are  like  to  be  made  in  the  American  Church  before  grievances 
from  this  main  can  be  redressed  from  home.  We  beseech  your  Hon'ble  Body 
let  the  bleeding  wounds  of  the  Church  at  Philada  and  the  deplorable  condi- 
tion she  is  like  to  continue  in  for  some  time,  be  an  effectual  argument  to  fix  a 
proper  Ecclesiastical  Superior  Authority  among  us  that  we  may  regulate  dis- 
orders before  they  grow  inveterate  &  stop  our  wounds  before  we  bleed  to 
death.  Pray  God  direct  you  in  the  management  of  this  important  affair  & 
enable  you  to  remove  evil  Pastors  from  the  flock  as  well  as  furnish  it  with 
those  that  by  their  life  &  doctrine  set  forth  God's  true  &  lively  word.  We 
are,  may  it  please  the  Hon'ble  Society, 

Your  Honors  most  obed1   Servts  &  Missionaries, 

GEO.  ROSS, 

JN°.  HUMPHREYS. 

This  is  signed  in  behalf  &  at  the  appointment  of  the  Meeting  of  the  Clergy 
at  Philadelphia  the  1 7thMarch,  1 7 1 4. 


i;i4-]  84 


CLERGY  of  PENNSYLVANIA   to    the    BISHOP   of 

LONDON  &>  Affidavit  concerning  M\   PHILLIPS. 


March  17,  1 7 1 4. 
May  it  please  your  Lordship, 

We  are  at  present  involved  in  the  greatest  difficulties  and  the  most  deplor- 
able circumstances  that  ever  happened  to  the  Church  since  the  first  planting 
of  it  in  these  parts  &  all  this  occasioned  by  the  extreme  loose  &  irregular 
conduct  of  one  of  our  number,  Mr.  Francis  Phillips. 

May  it  please  your  Lordship  it  is  the  greatest  grief  that  at  the  same  time 
we  congratulate  your  Lordship  our  Right  Reverend  &  Hond  Diocesan's 
happy  accession  to  your  present  high  dignity,  we  lye  under  the  pressing  un- 
happy necessity  to  entertain  your  Lordship  with  complaints  which  how  un- 
grateful so  ever  they  may  be,  are  yet  at  this  juncture  necessary  for  us  to  make. 
For  how  culpable  would  be  our  want  of  zeal  &  vigilance  in  the  great  trust 
reposed  in  us,  should  we  neglect  to  exert  ourselves  vigorously  in  defence  of 
our  Holy  mother  the  Church  of  Christ  when  we  find  her  grievously  wounded 
&  bleeding  and  our  selves  her  ministers  loaded  with  bitter  reproaches  thro' 
the  means  of  this  impudent  man  by  a  people  who  embrace  all  opportunities 
to  render  us  infamous  &  contemptable.  This  man  whose  shame  &  sin  him- 
self could  not  conceal  notwithstanding  the  satisfaction  he  gave  in  his  outward 
deportment  at  his  first  coming  to  Philadelphia  whereby  he  gained  the  good 
graces  of  the  people  &  raised  good  hopes  of  him,  has  yet  behaved  himself  so 
foolishly  and  loosely  in  his  private  haunts  &  amongst  his  most  intimate  com- 
panions that  he  has  rendered  himself  to  all  sincere  lovers  of  truth,  honor  & 
piety  so  that  we  cannot  but  request  your  Lordship  to  purge  the  Church  of  so 
bad  a  member  &  rid  us  of  so  scandalous  a  Brother.  Your  Lordship  will  per- 
ceive by  the  inclosed  affidavits  the  black  &  almost  unheard  of  crime  laid  to  his 
charge.  Those  traduced  by  him  are  women  of  unblemished  reputation  & 
honor  &  two  of  them  especially  Mrs.  Trent  &  Mrs.  Mary  Moore  are  persons 
of  distinction  &  of  a  firm  rank  &  quality  in  this  place  &  none  but  a  person 
void  of  common  reason  &  lost  to  all  goodness  could  have  belyed  himself  & 
them  so  grossly  as  to  say  he  had  to  do  with  them,  out  of  vanity,  it  may  be 
supposed,  to  be  accounted  a  mighty  man  in  the  esteem  of  the  Ladies.  These 
Affidavits  shew  but  a  small  part  of  the  baseness  of  the  man,  as  the  persons 


85  [1714. 

who  made  them  fully  assured  us:  and  the  reason  they  gave  for  not  speaking 
more  was  their  apprehension  that  it  would  not  be  for  the  Honour  of  the 
Church  or  our  credit  to  declare  all  the  evil  they  knew  of  him.  We  gave  him 
frequent  opportunities  to  clear  himself  of  those  gross  imputations  but  could 
not  prevail  upon  him  by  any  means  we  cou'd  use  even  to  come  into  our  com- 
pany tho'  lovingly  requested  &  when  we  found  that  what  was  alleged  against 
him  could  be  plainly  proved,  we  advised  him  quietly  to  withdraw  himself  be- 
fore his  faults  were  made  the  discoveries  of  himself,  but  finding  that  these 
methods  could  not  prevail  with  him  to  restore  peace  to  the  Church  &  to  dis- 
courage the  insolent  &  dangerous  popular  commotions  raised  &  kept  up  in 
his  behalf  to  the  danger  of  the  lives  of  good  people  we  could  not  chuse  but 
separate  from  him  and  entirely  disown  him  as  unfit  for  the  station  which  he 
now  holds  &  says  peremptorily  he  will  hold  in  defiance  of  your  Lordship's 
power  &  authority.  It  is  true  he  met  with  too  rigorous  a  prosecution  when 
his  crimes  were  first  brought  to  light,  but  the  provocation  he  gave  to  the 
Gentlemen  whose  Families  he  had  injured  were  too  pungent  to  allow  of  the 
mildest  methods  &  the  refusal  he  himself  made  to  make  up  the  matter  was 
chiefly  the  occasion  of  his  being  put  in  Prison.  He  is  convicted  to  our  satis- 
faction &  your  Lordship  may  believe  that  we  were  not  too  credulous  in  a 
thing  which  so  much  concerned  us  &  all  that  we  have  farther  to  say  to  your 
Lordship  is  that  Mr.  Phillips  is  in  no  wise  a  proper  person  to  be  continued  as 
a  Minister  of  Christ  either  here  or  elsewhere,  therefore  we  pray  that  your 
Lordship  will  be  pleased  to  take  a  speedy  &  effectual  care  to  remove  from  the 
Altar  so  vain,  so  turbulent  &  profligate  a  man  who  is  likely  to  do  more  disser- 
vice to  the  Church  of  God  if  he  stays  here  much  longer  than  all  our  endeav- 
ours can  retrieve  in  some  years.  We  humbly  submit  all  this  to  your  Lord- 
ship's wisdom  &  consideration  begging  your  Blessing  &  Prayers  that  we 
continue  as  in  duty  bound,  may  it  please  your  Lordship, 

Your  Lordship's  most  dutiful  and 
obedient  Sons  &  Servants, 

JOHN  TALBOT,  Rector  of  Burlington, 
GEORGE  ROSS,  Minr  of  New  Castle, 
JOHN  HUMPHREYS,  of  Chester, 
JOHN  CLUBB,  Minr  of  Oxford,  &c, 
R.  JENNEY,  Curate  of  Philadelphia. 


I7H-]  86 

May  it  please  your  Lordship, 

We  forgot  in  our  first  Copy  of  this  Letter  to  acquaint  your  Lordship  of  a 
Paper  signed  by  several  Persons,  Admirers  of  Mr.  Phillips  &  particularly  to 
our  great  astonishment  by  Mr.  Penn's  Deputy  Governor  to  clear  him  of  what 
is  imputed  to  him.  The  sd  Paper  we  are  sure  is  a  false  representation  of  his 
unhappy  case  &  men's  hands  set  to  it  before  the  matter  whereof  Mr.  Phillips 
was  accused  had  been  thoroughly  canvassed  &  to  our  satisfaction  &  conviction 
fully  proved  &  therefore  we  hope  it  will  meet  with  no  other  entertainment 
with  your  Lordship  than  he  whom  it  so  undeservedly  recommends  doth  now 
receive  from  the  hands  of  those  very  men  who  appeared  at  first  so  warmly  in 
his  behalf  for  since  his  Deeds  have  been  made  so  manifest  to  the  world,  the 
ungrateful  usajje  he  has  shewed  to  his  best  friends  have  oblig-ed  them  to  de- 
test  him. 

Some  of  us  have  written  very  heartily  in  his  favor  at  his  first  coming  to 
Pennsylvania  &  nothing  but  the  strongest  conviction  of  his  unaccountable 
behaviour  could  have  prevailed  upon  such  of  us  as  heretofore  espoused  his 
cause  to  trouble  your  Lordship  with  such  a  character  of  him  as  we  believe  few 
or  none  in  Holy  Orders  ever  deserved. 

GEO.  ROSS, 

JN°.  HUMPHREYS. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Clergy  of  Pennsylvania,  in  conjunction  with  the 
Revd.  Mr.  Talbot  Rector  to  the  Church  at  Burlington,  the  10th  March,  1 7 1 4. 
It  was  moved  that  the  Revd  Mr.  Phillips  be  invited  and  requested  to  be  pres- 
ent at  the  Meeting  &  that  ye  request  be  signified  by  the  Revd  Mr.  Talbot  &" 
one  of  the  Church  Wardens  of  Philadelphia.  The  Revd  Mr.  Talbot  having 
accordingly  signified  the  same  to  him,  upon  his  return  reported  that  the  said 
Mr.  Phillips  answered  he  had  nothing  to  say  to  us.  Moved  whether  or  not  it 
was  more  proper  for  the  Clergy  to  require  Public  Trial  before  a  Quaker  Judi- 
cature agreed  both  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  Brethren  &  to  prevent  the  dis- 
grace that  must  needs  fall  upon  their  Sacred  Order  by  an  open  Trial  of  the 
said  Mr.  Phillips  before  the  Enemies  of  the  Church  that  the  Persons  who  are 
said  to  be  Evidences  against  him  be  desired  to  declare  upon  Oath  what  they 
know  as  to  the  crimes  laid  to  his  charge.     Accordingly, 

John  Smith  of  Philadelphia,  Gentleman,  voluntarily  &  of  his  own  accord 
deposeth  upon  Oath  and  saith  that  he  has  several  times  heard  Mr.  Phillips  talk 


87  [I7H- 

about  some  Intrigue  betwixt  him  &  Madm  Trent  and  Mrs.  Mary  Moore,  that 
the  said  Phillips  said  he  had  frequent  opportunity  of  their  company  &  had 
lain  with  them  both  at  Mr.  Newman's,  that  this  Depo'  cautioned  the  said 
Phillips  to  take  care  what  he  said  that  he  confirmed  it  by  an  Oath  or  impreca- 
tion &  also  that  he  had  lain  with  Mrs.  Newman  .  the  said  John  Smith,  farther 
freely  &  of  his  own  accord  upon  his  oath  deposeth  that  he  heard  Mr.  Francis 
Phillips  several  times  say  that  he  the  said  Phillips  had  layn  with  Mrs.  Styles  the 
woman  that  lives  with  him  in  the  House  and  that  he  the  said  Phillips  said  Mrs. 
Styles  told  him  that  she  believed  she  was  with  child. 

William  Jones  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  Vintner,  voluntarily  &  of  his  own 
accord  deposeth  that  he  heard  Mr.  Francis  Phillips  several  times  say  that  he 
die  said  Phillips  had  layn  with  Newman  &  that  the  said  M1"5.  Newman  was  to 
procure  a  spark  for  Madm.  Trent  and  that  he  the  said  Phillips  had  several 
times  to  do  with  Made  Trent  and  also  that  the  said  Phillips  said  he  had  sev- 
eral times  to  do  with  Mrs.  Mary  Moore  &  that  the  said  Phillips  had  several 
times  confirmed  what  Deponent  saith  with  oath.  The  said  William  Jones 
farther  freely  and  of  his  own  accord  upon  his  oath  deposeth  &  saith  that  the 
said  Phillips  several  times  said  that  the  said  Mr.  Phillips  had  layn  with  Mrs. 
Styles  the  woman  that  lives  with  him  in  the  Parsonage  House  and  that  he  the 
said  Mr.  Phillips  said  the  said  Mrs.  Styles  told  him  she  believed  she  was  Breed- 
ing, or  in  words  to  that  effect. 


To  the  BISHOP  of  LONDON. 


May  it  Please  Yor  Lordshp, 

Tho'  ye  Vestry  has  formerly  given  yr  Lordship  (as  we  hope),  a  Sufficient 
testimonial  of  ye  Life  &  ability  of  our  present  Minister  ye  Revd  Mr.  Francis 
Philipps,  yet  some  persons  of  evil  fame  (particularly  one  who  goes  by  ye 
name  of  John  Smith,  a  reputed  Roman  Catholick),  having  instigated  by  mali- 
cious Insinnuations  Mr.  William  Trent  a  merch1  of  Credit  in  this  City  and 
Mr.  John  Moore  Collect1  to  Issue  out  a  rigorous  Prosecution  for  Supposed 
words  spoken  agl  their  private  families,  wch  they  have  under  their  own  hands 


i7i5-] 


88 


since  Contradicted  by  withdrawing  their  actions.  We  thought  it  our  duty  out 
of  a  due  Sense  of  &  regard  to  ye  holy  mission,  as  well  as  ye  Interest  of  our 
infant  Church  to  renew  &  Confirm  their  late  Character  of  Mr.  Philipps  to  yr 
Lordship,  being  truly  sensible  how  much  his  Continuance  amongst  us  (not- 
withstanding any  misrepresentation),  will  contribute  to  its  enlargem1,  wch  is  all 
that  is  aim'd  at  by, 

May  it  please  yor  Ldship, 

Yor  Ldship's  most  obed1  Sons 

and  humble  Servts, 

CHA:  GOOKIN, 
Philada,  March  7th,  Gov'nour. 

171*. 


Dr.  Charles  Lobert, 
Dr.  Fran  :  Gandouet, 
Thomas  Pert, 
Richard  Mullard, 
John  Eyer, 
Caesar  Ghiselin, 
Wm  Robinson, 
Andrew  Bradford, 
Leison  Loftus, 
Matw  Conihane, 
Edward  Smout, 
Peter  Worrell, 
James  Tuthill, 
Joseph  Davis, 
Nathaniel  Dodd, 
John  Smith, 
Caleb  Casht, 
Richd  Walker, 
John  Read, 
Simon  Edgell, 
John  Keap, 
Susannah  Crapp, 
Oliver  Galtry, 


Robert  Garard, 
John  Williams,  Junr., 
Andrew  Lock, 
Edward  Scull, 
Richd  Kees, 
John  Lewer, 
Sarah  Ratloff, 
Richd  Clymar, 
Robert  Hobart, 
Mary  Forbess, 
James  Brendly, 
Gyles  Green, 
John  Jenkins, 
Thomas  King, 
Thomas  Stapleford, 
Edward  Robinson, 
Henry  Munday, 
John  Entes, 
Richd  Willis, 
Sam1  Jones, 
Anthony  Duchear, 
Katherine  Jones, 
Philip  Hilliard, 


Edward  Glover, 
Joseph  Smith, 
Peter  Proctor, 
Enoch  Story, 
Nickholas  Puts, 
Thomas  Parham, 
Henry  Stephens, 
Robert  Mullard, 
Anthony  Stevens, 
Hu^h  Wesse, 
Elnathan  Lane, 
John  Oston, 
John  Lovegrove, 
Dan1  Ridge, 
Edmund  Davis, 
John  Orton, 
John  Williams, 
John  Hope, 
Robert  Wallis, 
Thomas  Denton, 
Wm  Bowell, 
Josiah  Appleton, 
Grimston  Bowd, 


89 


[i7i5- 


John  Beere, 
John  Knowles, 
Andrew  Bird, 
Wm  Hill, 
Mary  Prigg, 
Matw  Newell, 
Jonathan  Ashton, 


Rob1  Davies, 
Hannah  Hubard, 
Anne  Brown, 
Charles  Martin, 
Wm  Pawlett, 
Wm  Bantoft, 
Tho :  Huggins, 


Thomas  Oakly, 
John  Mason, 
John  Leech, 
Robert  Kanady, 
Gabriel  Wilkinson, 
Margaret  Riselly, 
Elizabeth  Bristow, 
John  Ellis, 
Wm  Preston, 
Wm  Rigi—  * 
Hannah  Pratt, 
Philip  Ling, 
Anthony  Hartley, 
Wm  Cox, 
John  Harrison, 
Gustavus  Kesselins, 
Sarah  Gatchel, 
Jasper  Kent, 
Mary  Lassell, 
Mary  Jones. 


I,  Ralph  Assheton,  Notary  publick  &  Tabellion  of  the  Province  of  Pensil- 
vania  duly  Admitted  &  Sworn  dwelling  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia  Do  hereby 
certify  that  the  Within  Letter  is  a  true  Copy  of  the  Original  Letter  Signd  by 
Charles  Gookins,  Esqr.,  Lieu'  Govr,  &c.,  &  the  persons  whose  names  are 
above  &  Within  Written.  In  Testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  Sett  my 
hand  this  Thirty  First  Day  of  March,  A0  Dom,  171 5. 

RALPH  ASSHETON,  Notarius  Publicus. 

I7I5- 


*  Remainder  of  name  torn  from  original  MS. 


1715.]  9Q 

Mr.  PHILLIPS  to  the  SECRETARY. 


Philadelphia,  March  23,  171^. 
Most  Revd  Sir, 

The  ill  usage  I  have  met  with  since  my  arrival  in  these  parts  you  have 
been  already  (in  part),  acquainted  with  but  some  malicious  and  barbarous 
abuses  which  have  been  lately  offered  to  me  in  this  place  obliges  me  to  use 
this  freedom  (fearing  Mr.  Vesey  has  left  England),  which  your  wonted  good- 
ness will  I  presume  readily  excuse  and  at  your  discretion  represent  my  case 
to  the  Bishop  of  London,  which  is  this,  One  who  goes  by  the  name  of  John 
Smith,  a  notorious  Roman  Catholick,  having  been  obliged  to  leave  his  native 
Country  for  drinking  confusion  to  the  late  King  William,  his  Council  and  Par- 
liament, for  which  reason  too  he  was  forced  to  change  his  name  as  can  be 
proved  upon  a  check  given  him  by  me  being  vexed  with  being  too  conversant 
with  another  man's  wife  (in  whose  husband's  house  he  has  resided  this  twelve 
or  fifteen  years),  and  for  rediculing  religion,  swore  he  would  be  revenged  on 
me,  and  in  order  to  put  his  wicked  design  in  execution  goes  premeditately 
before  a  magistrate  and  extrajudicially  makes  an  affidavit  that  he  had  heard 
me  say  that  I  had  debauched  a  merchant  of  credit  (viz1),  Mr.  William  Trent's 
wife  and  Mr.  John  Moore's  daughter  at  the  house  of  one  Mr.  Newman,  Mr. 
Newman's  wife  being  privy  to  all  that  which  fact  and  every  part  of  it  she  s 
ready  to  confute  &  deny  upon  oath.  Upon  which  Mr.  Moore  (who  'tis  too 
notorious  has  always  acted,  writ  &  spoke  in  opposition  to  the  minister  of  this 
place  ever  since  his  arrival  here  for  the  truth  of  which  I  appeal  to  Mr.  Evans's 
own  experience  and  the  relation  he  has  had  of  his  behaviour  to  others), 
incenses  Mr.  Trent  and  prevails  with  him  to  join  in  issuing  out  an  illegal  and 
rigorous  process  to  which  end  without  my  knowledge  they  sent  for  one  Mr. 
Ashton  the  recorder  of  this  City  to  the  house  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Quarry  and  got 
two  writs  directed  to  the  high  Sheriff  one  marked  ^2000  and  the  other  ^1000 
whereas  in  an  action  of  the  case  the  law  requires  no  Bail  without  a  motion  in 
Court  for  special  damage  and  a  rule  thereupon.  These  writs  were  executed 
by  Peter  Evans  the  above  named  Sheriff  who  has  been  very  instrumental  in 
carrying  on  this  vile  design  in  conjunction  with  Smith.  He  is  a  person  that 
has  for  several  years  lived  in  a  known  and  open  state  of  adultery  with  one 


9i  [I7I5- 

Graces's  wife  and  others  ;  has  been  once  suspended  for  packing  Juries,  and 
the  night  before  I  met  with  such  barbarous  treatment  sent  me  a  challenge 
writ  with  his  own  hand,  a  copy  of  which  I  have  here  sent  you  inclosed.  By 
this  ill  man  (tho'  at  that  time  in  a  very  bad  state  of  health),  I  was  dragged  to 
Goal  between  Eleven  and  twelve  of  the  Clock  on  Saturday  night,  Feby,  22, 
where  I  was  detained  till  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  on  Sunday,  and  denied 
not  only  the  civility  of  being  admitted  to  stay  in  the  undersheriff' s  house,  but 
the  liberty  to  send  for  Bail  which  would  have  been  allowed  to  any  criminal 
except  one  impeached  of  murder,  fellony  or  treason.  The  design  of  which 
unwarrantable  and  violent  proceedings  was  as  some  of  the  party  themselves 
have  owned  to  drive  me  from  the  place  and  destroy  my  interest  because  they 
knew  that  I  have  10  friends  for  one  enemy  among  all  persuasions  and  that  not 
because  I  have  in  the  least  encouraged  their  unreasonable  separation  but 
because  I  have  endeavored  to  discharge  my  duty  faithfully  without  railery  or 
hypocrisy  and  likewise  patiently  bore  all  the  abuses  that  Col1  Hunter  or  his 
emisaries,  by  whom  I  am  perpetually  persecuted,  John  Moore  being  the  chief 
in  this  place,  have  put  upon  me ;  therefore  I  must  leave  it  to  my  superiors  to 
judge  how  fit  such  a  known  enemy  to  God  and  religion  is  to  serve  his  Majesty  in 
an  office  in  the  execution  of  which  he  is  capable  of  doing  so  much  injustice  to 
those  concerned  in  trade  and  merchandize,  many  of  which  he  has  ruined  by 
his  unlawful  measures  as  may  be  easily  made  appear.  It  was  his  daily  practice 
in  the  last  reign  in  all  companies  to  rail  at  the  church  and  state ;  and  as  to  the 
canons — he  has  more  than  once  in  my  hearing  at  a  public  meeting  of  the  Ves- 
try declared  that  they  were  of  no  force  here  so  that  I  take  it  for  granted  that 
though  he  is  no  member  of  the  Vestry  now ;  his  next  ascertion  will  be  that 
we  are  not  under  the  cognizance  of  the  Bishop  of  London  and  consequently 
that  the  people  may  call  or  displace  a  minister  after  the  independant  mode 
when  they  please  but  this  I  believe  he  will  scarcely  be  able  to  accomplish  dur- 
ing my  abode  here.  You  will  be  informed  by  the  enclosed  testimonials  signed 
by  the  Hon'ble  Col1  Gookin  our  Governor ;  a  man  of  good  sense  and  piety 
what  credit  he  gives  to  any  malicious  reports  which  are  or  have  been  cast 
upon  me,  and  also  in  what  esteem  I  am  with  the  people  whose  names  are 
under  subscribed  being  all  of  them  masters  or  mistresses  of  families,  sound 
members  of  our  Infant  Church  and  make  up  above  three  parts  of  the  congre- 
gation whereas  there's  only  five  or  six  families  engaged  in  this  faction  against 
me,  the  majority  of  which  too  signed  an  ample  testimonial  in  October  last  to 


1715].  92 

the  Bishop  for  my  being  continued  here  which  testimonial  is  I  hope  come  to 
hand  long  ago.  Besides  the  words  which  they  would  presume  to  prove  that 
I  spoke,  for  as  to  the  fact  there  is  none  of  them  pretend  to  believe  it,  they  are 
so  ridiculous  and  groundless  that  no  man  in  his  wits  could  ever  be  guilty  of 
such  scandalous  folly  so  that  this  is  plain  certainty  to  any  unprejudiced  mind 
that  they  could  mean  nothing  else  by  it  but  to  cast  an  odium  not  only  on  me 
but  my  sacred  character  too.  Therefore  I  beg  that  you  will  be  pleased  to  use 
your  interest  with  your  good  Bishop  on  my  behalf  and  beg  his  protection  by 
prevailing  with  him  to  shew  those  persons  that  have  taken  upon  them  not 
only  to  misrepresent  me  but  treat  my  person  and  character  after  such  an 
unchristian  and  barbarous  manner  his  dislike  to  such  irregular  violent  pro- 
ceedings which  tend  so  much  to  the  prejudice  of  our  holy  church  and  religion 
in  a  place  thronged  with  all  sorts  of  Dissenters.  At  this  unusual  and  unheard 
treatment  of  a  Clergyman  the  people  were  very  much  surprised  and  disturbed 
which  occasioned  not  only  great  murmuring  but  there  came  to  the  prison 
whilst  I  was  in  custody  about  two  or  three  hundred  Boys  and  young  men 
among  whom  there  was  some  of  all  persuasions  and  told  the  prison  keeper 
that  if  I  was  not  set  at  liberty  they  would  pull  down  the  Goal.  At  this  alarm 
I  opened  a  window  in  the  room  where  I  was,  several  Gentlemen  of  the  Town 
(my  friends),  being  present  and  desired  and  begged  of  the  people  that  were 
without  to  be  quiet  and  not  to  attempt  any  thing  in  a  tumultuous  way  upon 
which  entreaty  they  promised  to  be  peaceable  provided  I  was  dismissed  that 
night.  Immediately  after  this  there  came  an  order  from  under  Mr.  Moore's 
and  Mr.  Trent's  hands  to  the  Sheriff  to  dismiss  me  which  accordingly  was 
done.  I  then  retired  to  my  own  house  after  which  the  mobb  attacked  the 
house  where  Smith  and  the  Woman  with  whom  he  is  accused  of  being  great 
with  reside  and  did  some  little  damage,  but  at  the  command  of  the  Governor 
who  immediately  repaired  thither  dispersed.  The  Monday  and  Tuesday  nights 
following-  there  was  some  little  damage  done  to  Mr.  Moore's  and  Mr.  Trent's 
windows,  but  if  I  am  so  far  misrepresented  as  to  be  styled  the  encourager  of 
any  such  tumult  or  mutiny  the  Governor  and  the  Church  will  acquit  and  clear 
me  of  any  such  imputation  by  letter  or  certificate  if  required.  I  shan't  men- 
tion Mr.  Moore's  and  Mr.  Trent's  endeavours  (the  latter  of  which  is  made  a 
cats  paw  or  tool  in  this  matter  on  purpose  to  gain  credit  to  it),  to  draw  in  Mr. 
Talbot  and  others  of  the  Brethren  to  write  against  me  upon  this  occasion  or 
Mr.  Trent's  sending  me  word  that  he  would  shoot  me  by  Mr.  Talbot  nor  Mr. 


93  [*7*5- 

Jenney's  indiscreet  assertion  that  I  was  he  believed  predestinated  to  be 
damned  because  I  was  so  severely  persued  by  calumny  and  reflection  &  for 
no  other  reason ;  as  if  affliction  were  always  the  mark  of  a  Bastard,  because 
that  would  look  like  recrimination.  Therefore  I'll  omit  this  and  only  offer  one 
thing  more  to  your  consideration  which  is  the  unhappy  resolution  of  all  my 
friends  to  quit  the  Church  if  I  leave  it,  the  consequence  of  which  I  leave  to 
your  better  judgment  and  though  I  have  no  merit  that  can  entitle  me  to  your 
favor  upon  this  occasion  yet  I  doubt  not  but  your  steady  and  commendable 
zeal  for  God's  church  will  invite  you  to  exert  yourself  on  this  occasion  which 
shall  be  always  most  gratefully  acknowledged  by, 

Revd  Dr.  &c, 

FRA.  PHILIPS. 


M\  TALBOT  to  LORD  BISHOP  of  LONDON. 

Burlington,  Octr  21,  171 5. 
My  Lord, 

We  had  the  honor  of  your  Lordship's  letter  on  Saturday  last  which  were 
delivered  according  to  order  to  the  Governor  and  Mr.  Phillips.  They  both 
promised  obedience  but  neither  intended  to  perform.  I  waited  on  the  Gover- 
nor on  Sunday  morning  with  Mr.  Trent  the  chief  man  in  the  Church.  So  we 
went  to  the  Church  warden  and  I  demanded  the  Church  in  your  Lordship's 
name  and  I  would  see  who  hinders  me.  He  said  he  would  not.  When  the 
Governor  and  he  came  together  they  agreed  that  Philips  should  not  preach  so 
I  went  to  church  peaceably  and  quietly  and  brought  the  people  back  again  to 
the  great  joy  of  that  city.  But  the  Governor  went  away  to  the  Sweedish 
Church  which  he  understands  as  much  as  I  do  Arabic.  I  have  written  to  the 
rest  of  the  Brethren  and  given  them  a  copy  of  your  Lordship's  order  to  serve 
till  Dr.  Evans  comes.  Mr.  Jenney  has  been  gone  to  New  York  2  or  3  months 
ago.  I  am  very  glad  to  hear  that  Brother  Vesey  is  arrived  safe  at  Boston  with 
the  King's  letter  for  his  Salary.  For  the  Governor  had  put  in  such  a  mayor 
as  said  he  should  never  have  it.  He  told  me  so  himself.  God  help  us  for 
Governm1  here especially  your  outlying  members,  I  don't  know  one  of 


I7I5-]  94 

them  good.  I  am  sorry  I  should  be  accused  of  sedition  in  my  old  age  after 
I  have  travelled  more  than  any  body  to  keep  the  peace  in  church  and  state. 
My  Lord,  please  to  ask  Mr.  Secretary  Hall  and  he  will  tell  you  that  I  was  a 
Williamite  from  the  beginning.  Let  them  consult  the  admiralty  office  and  they 
will  find  I  took  all  the  oaths  that  were  necessary  to  qualify  me  for  the  service 
which  I  have  performed  faithfully  abroad  and  at  home.  As  soon  as  I  have 
time  I  will  call  the  Church  together  to  answer  for  themselves  and  me  too  to 
the  illustrious  Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel,  &c.  Mean  while  the 
Lord  rebuke  that  evil  spirit  of  lying  and  slander  that  is  gone  out  against  the 
Church.  Here  and  there  they  spare  none.  I  suffer  like  my  Lord  and  Mas- 
ter between  two  at  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  but  God  has  been  my  suc- 
cour and  I  doubt  not  but  he  will  still  deliver  me  from  the  snare  of  the  Hun- 
ter. The  people  of  Philadelphia  said  if  your  Lordsps  letters  had  been  directed 
to  the  Governor  they  had  been  stifled  but  I  hope  I  shall  be  always  zealous  to 
approve  myself, 

My  Lord,  Your  Lordship's,  &c, 

JOHN  TALBOT. 

P.  S. — Mr.  Philips  gives  out  that  he  will  come  home  &  clear  him  self.  I 
wish  he  could,  but  I  believe  he  designs  for  the  West  Indies  where  the  worst 
priest  the  best  Clerk. 


M\  NEWBERT  to  M.  VESET. 


Philadelphia,  Novr  30,  171 5. 
Sir, 

My  kind  love  and  humble  respects  &  service  presented  unto  you  hoping 
through  God's  mercy  these  lines  will  find  you  alive  and  in  good  health  as  at 
this  present  writing  I  am,  I  praise  God,  although  aged  and  crazy  and  have 
been  visited  with  abundance  of  sickness,  since  I  came  to  Philadelphia,  which 
is  about   1 5   years  and  a  half.     Sir,  I  am  bound  to  remember  you  with  love 


95  [1715- 

thankfulness  for  all  the  love  and  kind  benedictions  that  I  received  from  you 
when  I  was  your  Parish  Clerk  in  Tiffield  and  especially  for  your  good  instruc- 
tion I  received  from  you  during  the  time  of  your  ministry  there. 

Sir,  my  humble  Petition  to  you  is  in  the  behalf  of  our  minister  Mr.  Francis 
Philips  who  is  forced  to  fly  for  his  life  and  to  take  his  voyage  to  England  this 
cold  winter  season  to  make  his  appeal  to  your  Bishop  for  he  hath  been  vehe- 
mently abused  and  persecuted  by  a  Popish  crew,  Richmen  of  the  place  such 
as  have  not  God  before  their  eyes,  Church  papists  whose  conversations  are  so 
corrupt  and  vicious  that  they  will  not  endure  sound  doctrine,  but  after  their 
own  lusts  they  do  heap  to  themselves  teachers  as  the  Apostle  Sl  Paul  speaks 
of  in  the  2d  of  Timothy  the  4  chapter  &  3  verse.  I  heard  one  of  the  chief  of 
them  coming  from  Church  ask  a  Gentlewoman  who  she  thought  Mr.  Philips 
spake  to  and  she  said  he  speaks  to  us  all  and  he  said  it  was  too  plain  and 
swore  by  God  no  body  is  able  to  endure  it  and  this  was  the  greatest  adver- 
sary to  Mr.  Philips  and  one  of  the  first  he  had  in  Philadelphia.  This  was  he 
that  send  the  high  Sheriff  and  his  deputy  one  Saturday  night  when  he  was 
going  into  his  bed  to  imprison  him.  They  came  and  knocked  at  his  door  and 
his  housekeeper  opened  the  door  to  them  and  they  rushed  in  and  up  into  his 
Chamber  and  dragged  him  out  and  would  not  give  him  time  to  put  on  his 
stockings  but  had  him  up  &  down  the  street  in  a  very  cold  season  near  half  a 
mile  bare  leged  and  then  put  him  in  the  Prison  where  he  was  kept  till  next 
day  about  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  and  a  Mobb  rose  and  fetched  him  out 
then  and  guarded  him  safe  to  his  own  house.  After  this  they  who  raised  this 
mischief  for  sook  the  Church  and  drew  others  after  them  being  Rich  men  till 
they  was  about  30  Sizmaticks  in'  Number  and  hired  other  Ministers  to  preach 
to  them,  Such  as  S'  Paul  calls  false  Brethren  as  chiefly,  Mr.  John  Talbot  of 
Burlington,  who  pretends  himself  a  Missionary  but  is  by  report  more  like  to 
be  a  Jesuit  or  a  father  confessor.  Then  there  was  men  lay  in  ambush  in  the 
way  going  and  coming  to  Church  with  guns  and  Pistols  to  shoot  him  but  his 
Congregation  guarded  him — but  God  was  his  chief  guard  and  his  Congrega- 
tion was  large,  commonly  5  or  600.  We  have  a  good  Governor,  God  preserve 
him.  If  it  had  not  been  for  him  our  Minister  might  not  have  been  alive  till 
now.  He  hath  used  his  utmost  diligence  to  keep  peace  and  preserve  the 
Church  to  the  utmost  of  his  power  for  he  is  but  under  Wm  Penns,  commissioned 
by  the  Queen's  approbation.  The  Lord  grant  that  he  may  be  made  the  King's 
Governor  for  the  Quakers  Yoke  is  very  uneasy  and  their  burthen  very  heavy. 


I7I5-]  96 

The  Quakers  combined  with  the  highflyers  as  so  called  but  more  fitly  stiled 
Papists  to  try  our  Minister  by  their  illegal  Laws  and  brought  him  to  their 
Court,  but  the  Governor  stood  by  him  and  bid  him  sit  by  him  within  the  bar. 
The  mayor  bid  him  stand  up  but  he  said  he  would  not.  He  belonged  to  the 
Bishop's  Court  and  not  to  theirs.  The  Mayor  said  "Francis  Philips  thee  must 
get  Bondsmen  or  be  committed  to  close  Prison  "  and  forced  him  to  give  bail 
till  next  Court  and  they  then  fined  him  ^20  and  boasted  of  their  power  speak- 
ing very  proudly  and  unbecoming  to  the  Governor,  but  the  Governor  told  our 
minister  "  Mr.  P.  you  may  go  home  if  you  please.  I'll  forgive  you  your  fine." 
and  the  next  Court  they  sent  a  constable  to  the  Court  but  he  would  not  go. 
Then  they  sent  the  high  Sheriff  to  take  him  the  Governor  being  within  came 
down  and  made  the  Sheriff  run  away  to  save  his  back  from  the  cane  and  the 
Governor  went  to  Court  and  made  them  all  very  mute  and  then  they  cleared 
Mr.  Philips  by  Proclamation  and  discharged  his  Bondsmen. 

Since  that  about  6  weeks  ago  they  brought  two  letters  to  the  Governor  one 
for  himself  and  the  other  for  Mr.  Philips  with  the  Bishop's  hand  and  seal 
which  they  said  was  sent  out  of  England  to  them  by  your  Bishop's  order  to 
utterly  depose  Mr.  Philips  from  all  manner  of  service  belonging  to  a  minister 
and  so  from  that  time  Mr.  Philips  was  forced  to  be  silent  and  they  have  got  the 
Church  from  us  and  God's  worship  is  frustrated.  Some  go  to  the  Baptist ; 
some  to  the  Presbyterians  meeting,  some  go  no  where  and  our  Church  is  rent 
and  dispersed  to  the  great  dishonor  of  God  and  discomfort  of  our  Souls  and 
we  left  as  sheep  without  a  Shepherd.  In  this  little  time  that  Mr.  Philip  hath 
been  minister  our  Church  hath  mightly  increased;  all  our  Gallariesand  church 
has  been  well  furnished,  but  now  empty  enough.  We  never  had  so  good  a 
teacher  in  Philadelphia  these  1 5  years  settled  amongst  us.  Except  Mr.  Vesey 
of  New  York  I  never  heard  a  better  since  I  came  out  of  England  nor  so 
good.  He  hath  been  instant  in  his  calling  night  and  day  upon  all  occasions 
and  preached  a  Lecture  Sermon  at  night  every  month  before  sacrament  and 
hath  been  faithful  in  his  calling  both  in  his  life  and  doctrine  and  added  many 
to  the  Church.  All  good  people  love  him  but  only  such  as  will  not  reform 
their  lives  to  God's  laws  and  precepts  but  endeavor  to  clime  above  minister, 
King  and  Governor  and  turn  religion  into  rebellion  and  faith  into  faction 
destroy  the  Church  of  Christ  and  set  up  the  Devil's  Kingdom. 

And  therefore,  Sir,  my  humble  Petition  is  to  you  in  the  name  of  our  Lord 


97  [i  7i5. 

and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  that  you  will  be  instrumental  to  the  uttermost  of 
your  power  and  endeavor  to  excite  other  holy  and  faithful  ministers  also  of 
the  Church  to  intercede  to  your  Bishop  in  the  behalf  of  Mr.  Philips  our  minis- 
ter and  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  which  he  hath  purchased  with  his  own 
blood  and  for  that  good  and  charitable  works  I  am  sure  Jesus  Christ  will  be 
your  everlasting  reward  which  is  and  ever  shall  be  the  hearty  prayer  of  your 
most  humble  and  obliged  Servant, 

JOHN  NEWBERY. 


May  it  please  yr  Lordship, 

Nothing  but  ye  tender  regard  we  have  for  our  mother  ye  Church  of  Eng- 
land, and  a  Sincere  desire  y'  ye  propagation  of  Christ's  Gospel  may  go  on  Suc- 
cessfully in  those  dark  Corners  of  ye  Earth  and  its  ministers  be  protected  from 
ye  Insults  and  abuses  of  Dissenters  and  false  brethren  Should  Induce  us  to 
trouble  yor  Lordship  wth  Such  repeated  accounts  of  ye  unhappy  Circumstances 
of  our  Infant  Church,  being  now  too  well  assured  yl  not  only  ye  reputation  of 
ye  Revd  Mr.  Philips  is  Struck  at  but  yl  our  holy  Religion  is  barbarously  and 
uncharitably  wounded  thro'  his  Sides,  and  ye  potent  fomenters  of  those 
unchristian  Divisions  must  have  prvailed,  and  gained  their  point  had  not  ye 
Honble  Charles  Gookin  our  pious  Governr,  in  Condescention  and  pity  to  our 
bleeding  Church  (at  our  Especial  request)  Interposed  to  compose  its  differ- 
encies,  and  wth  Indefatigable  pains,  Strictly  and  Impartially  Examined  into  ye 
whole  contrivance  himself,  wch  (we  hope)  will  merit  yor  Lordship's  Just  esteem 
for  yl  worthy  Gentleman  at  a  propr  time.  But  yor  Lordship  will,  If  yu  have 
not  already,  very  speedily  receive  a  large  and  full  ace1  of  this  mattr  by  a  mes- 
senger Sent  over  on  purpose.  Because  we  huble  conceive  y*  ye  cognizant  of 
ye  Clergy's  behavr  belongs  only  to  yor  Lordship,  Except  in  Criminal  Cases. 
M'.  Philipps  as  he  appears  perfectly  innocent  to  us,  So  we  doubt  not  but  yl  he 
will  to  yor  Lordship,  upon  ye  receipt  of  our  Govern1'3  letf,  and  yl  their  mali- 
tious  and  extrajudisial  Arraigning  of  him  (being  a  Clergy-man)  before  a 
Quaker's  Court  of  Judicature,  will  depend.  Such  notice  as  for  ye  future  may 
prevent  ye  like  attempt  upon  yor  Lordship's  prrogative  to  ye  great  Scandal  of 
Religion,  and  almost  ye  ruin  of  ye  Church  in  this  City,  ye  Support  of  wch  Can 


I7I5-] 


98 


only  give  peace  and  Comfort  to  those  who  desire  to  approve  themselves  what 
they  really  are. 
Philada,  Augst  I  2, 

I7I5- 

May  it  please  yor  Lordship, 

Yor  Lordship's 

Most  obedient  Sons  and  huble 

Servants, 

E.  VINING,  )  r,       ,  , 

>  Lhurck-wardens. 

'  >  ) 


JOHN  HARRISON, 


Dr.  Charles  Lober, 
Dr.  Fran  :  Gaudouet, 
WM  Robinson, 
Tho  :  Pert, 
Josiah  Appleton, 
Henry  Munday, 
Peter  Worrell, 
John  Reed, 
Gabriel  Wilkinson, 
Caleb  Cashe, 


Vestrymen. 


Vera  Copia,  examined, 

|me,R:  ASSHTON,  Notarius  Publicus. 
Philada,  8ber  6th,  1 71 5. 


M\  HUMPHREYS  to  the  SEC  RET  ART. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Sir, 


Chester,  Octr.  3rd,  171 5. 


I  received  yours  of  Decr.  1 714,  about  a  fortnight  ago,  you  begin  with  a 


99  [I7I5- 

complaint  of  the  paucity  of  my  letters  upon  your  file,  wch  I  did  not  expect,  in 
Sepbr.  1 71 5,  having  writen  no  fewer  than  3  letters  to  the  Venerable  Society 
since  the  date  of  yours,  wch  I  hoped  was  an  answer  to  the  last  of  mine,  sent 
by  a  worthy  gentlewoman  from  Philada  named  Mrs.  Quarry ;  in  wch  I  recited 
some  particulars  of  a  letter  I  sent  by  the  commander  of  the  Poplar,  also  the 
Parker  frigate.  None  reasonably  complain  of  me  here,  &  I  will  take  particu- 
lar care  not  to  give  my  VenbIe  patrons  the  least  reason  to  accuse  me  of  remis- 
ness  in  my  ministerial  labours  in  any  branch  of  my  mission.  Sure  I  am,  three 
missionaries  in  this  large  province  cannot  want  employ  where  we  are  obliged 
to  divide  ourselves  amongst,  eleven  or  twelve  Congregations.  My  Church  is, 
blessed  be  God,  in  a  flourishing  posture.  I  have  a  fine  Congregation  at 
Chichesf  where  the  people  since  the  summer  built  a  convenient  Chapel,  I 
preach  there  once  a  month  as  I  do  likewise  at  Concord  to  a  good  number  of 
people  who  design  to  build  a  Church  next  summer.  Mr.  Ross  and  I  have 
raised  a  congregation  at  a  township  called  Marleborough,  30  miles  from 
hence  where  we  take  our  turns  monthly,  I  have  preached  likewise  at  S\  John's 
80  miles  from  hence,  where  there  is  a  fine  congregation  wch  Mr.  Ross  lately 
rescued  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Presbyterians,  I  have  likewise  helped  him  at 
Appoquinomiak  wch  he  frequently  visits.  Mr.  Clubb  has  likewise  his  hands  full 
as  well  as  we,  preaching  frequently  to  2  or  3  congregations  besides  those 
immediately  committed  to  his  charge  by  the  honbIe  Society. 

Ostentation  has  not  the  least  part  in  imparting  this  to  the  Venerable 
persons,  who  I'm  satisfied,  have  another  aim  in  their  glorious  &  charitable 
undertaking ;  but  the  knowledge  of  it,  may  satisfy  them,  that  their  poor  mis- 
sionaries' have  business  enough,  but  the  most  melancholy  part  of  our  case  is 
yet  behind  &  all  persons  who  have  any  love,  any  zeal  for  religion  readily  ac- 
knowledge that  we  labour  under  deplorable  circumstances  were  they  to  see 
the  lamentable  breach  made  in  the  Church  of  Philadelphia  by  the  unhappy 
conduct  of  that  lost  man  Mr.  Philips  wch  puts  us  under  the  necessity  of  preach- 
ing by  turns  there  to  a  good  number  of  the  best  people,  who  have  been 
taught  that  Christ  has  no  concord  with  Belial,  &  by  their  shewing  their  deny- 
ing communion  wth  him,  that  they  are  unwilling  to  be  partakers  of  his  sins. 
God  in  his  own  time  the  merciful  the  Just  God,  vouchsafe  to  restore  the  poor 
distressed  church  to  its  pristine  peace  &  splendour,  and  soon  may  he  remove 
from  us  that  Achan  who  troubleth  our  Israel. 

It  is  a  most  surprising  thing  that  Mr.  Pen's  deputy  governor  takes  his  part, 


I7I5-]  ioo 

&  joyns  with  a  number  to  countenance  and  support  him,  &  doubtless  you  will 
be  surprised  to  know  that  he  upholds  him,  purely  in  opposition  to  a  Gentleman 
at  Philada.     This  he  has  himself  declared  to  be  his  reason.  *         * 

I  am,  &c,  &c, 

JOHN  HUMPHREYS. 


CHURCH  WARDENS  &  VESTRY  of  OXFORD  in 
PENSTLVANIA  to  the  SECRETARY. 


To  the  most  Revd  R(  Rei/  &  the  other  Rev*  and  worthy  members  of  the  honbU 

Society  for  promoting  the  Gospel  in  Y"  parts. 
Ho'd  Sirs, 

We  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  inhabitants  of  Oxford  township 
in  the  province  of  Philada,  &  members  of  the  congregation  in  these  Parts, 
who  meet  to  worship  God  in  the  way  of  the  Church  of  England,  do  dutifully  ac- 
knowledge our  obligation  to  the  whole  body  by  whom  we  have  been  accom- 
modated wth  a  Minister  of  the  Church  of  England,  for  some  years  past  to  the 
benefit  and  comfort  of  our  selves,  &  many  others,  &  as  it  is  our  bounden  duty, 
we  return  our  most  humble  thanks  for  that  your  charity  towards  us,  but  it  hath 
pleased  Almighty  God  to  take  unto  himself,  our  loveing  &  beloved  Pastor 
Mr.  John  Clubb,  y'r  Missionr  who  departed  this  life,  in  Decr  last  past,  and  ever 
since  we  have  been  destitute  of  a  minister :  only  a  certain  minister  who  lately 
came  from  England,  upon  account  of  the  oaths  &  other  impositions  hath 
sometimes  preached  to  us,  as  he  hath  had  an  opportunity,  but  we  hear  he  is 
not  like  to  continue  in  these  parts,  being  threatened  also  here  wth  the  same 
abjuring  oath  and  so  we  are  like  to  be  as  sheep  without  a  Shepherd.  There- 
fore in  this  case  we  most  humbly  implore  your  help,  that  as  we  have  a  Church 
wherein  to  meet  and  worship  God,  so  we  may  be  accommodated  wth  a  minister 
to  officiate  for  us  in  the  things  that  pertain  unto  his  worship,  and  we  hope  that 
such  yr  Charity  will  redound  to  your  own  reward  &  to  the  increase  of  religion 
in  these  parts,  &  to  the  glory  &  praise  of  God. 


ioi  [_l7i6- 

So  pray  your  humble  petitioners,  met  together  the  21st  day  of  May,  at  the 
Church  of  Oxford  township  in  the  province  of  Philadelphia  in  America. 

EDWARD  COLLINS  &  others. 


Mr.  ROSS  to  the  SECRETARY. 

Newcastle,  28th  Augst  171 6. 
Sir, 

My  being  out  of  order  for  some  months  past  has  been  the  occasion  why 
you  have  not  heard  from  me  long  ere  now,  I'm  pretty  well  again,  and  able 
once  more  blessed  be  God,  to  extend  my  care  for  the  Church,  beyond  the 
bounds  of  my  more  immediate  charge. 

There  are  so  many  places  in  the  province  of  Pensylvania,  and  territories, 
that  want  your  ministry  of  the  word,  and  so  few  Missionaries  to  supply  them 
(and  now  fewer  than  ever)  that  except  the  honble  Society  will  please  to  send 
us  help,  Ave  who  endure  so  long  the  heat  of  the  day  must  needs  give  out,  while 
we  are  spent  so  much  in  journeying  often,  &  traveling  far  from  our  several 
places  of  residence  and  habitation. 

'Tis  really  wonderful  to  consider  how  the  church  prevails,  even  where  it  is 
most  opposed.  There  is  a  congregation  of  Christians  lately  sprung  up  in  one 
of  the  darkest  corners  of  Pensylvania  where  Quakerism  seemed  to  be  out  of 
all  danger  from  the  Priests.  Friends  are  now  convinced  of  their  mistake  for 
Priest  Humphreys  &  Priest  Bosse  entered  their  borders  and  wounded  the 
beast  by  preaching  Christ  and  the  resurrection. 

But  though  we  and  the  Quakers  do  thus  widely  differ,  yet  tis  observeable 
that  when  any  of  them  do  leave  their  own  way,  and  become  Christians  they 
generally  make  their  application  to  your  missionarys  for  Baptism,  instead  of 
going  to  dissenting  teachers,  who  tho'  ten  to  one  of  us  do  not  convert  one 
Quaker  to  ten  that  come  over  to  the  church. 

I  shall  conclude  this  letter  wth  an  account  of  my  endeavours  to  promote 
family  prayer  among  my  people. 

Several  excellent  tracts  have  been  written  on  purpose,  to  engage  those  of 


102  [i7l6- 

our  Communion  to  set  up  the  worship  of  God  in  their  family,  &  yet  'tis  but 
too  evident  how  ineffectuall  they  have  hitherto  prov'd  to  remove  so  great  a 
scandall  as  the  neglect  of  calling  upon  God  in  families  is  justly  confessed  to 
be,  I  resolved  \vth  myself  to  add  example  to  precept  and  exhortation  and 
accordingly,  sometime  before  I  was  taken  ill,  I  visited  some  one  family  or 
other,  every  Sunday  eveng  &  having  performed  divine  service  I  recommended 
it  to  the  master  to  go  on  in  the  Worship  of  God  in  his  house,  as  it  was  then 
set  on  foot,  and  begun  in  his  family.  At  the  same  time  I  catechised  the  child- 
ren &  servants  that  belonged  to  the  family,  or  entertained  the  auditory  wth 
some  brief  practical  remarks  upon  the  second  lesson  for  the  evening  service, 
wch  proved  so  agreeable  to  the  neighbourhood,  that  some  dissenters  were 
thereby  encouraged  to  joyn  with  us  in  prayer  &  to  speak  more  respectfully  of 
the  Church. 

I  have  been  very  much  interrupted  in  these  my  projects  for  setting  up 
Family  prayers  among  my  people  by  my  late  sickness,  whereof  when  I  am 
thoroughly  recovered  I  intend  wth  God's  assistance  to  renew  my  endeavours 
to  that  purpose :  what  success  it  shall  please  God  to  give  to  my  labours,  in 
this,  or  any  other  particular,  I  shall  be  sure  to  communicate  to  you,  as  often 
as  opportunity  offers  to,  Sir, 

Your  humble  Servant, 

GEO.  ROSS. 

P.  S. — This  comes  by  Col1  Cox  of  New  Jersey,  a  good  and  constant  friend 
to  all  the  Society's  missioners  in  these  parts  and  I  cannot  but  wish,  he  may 
meet  with  that  reception  from  all  the  members  of  that  honble  body,  that  a 
person  of  his  worth  &  merits,  and  one  that  is  hearty  for  the  present  Constitu- 
tion in  Church,  &  State,  is  very  deserveing  of,  and  has  just  pretentions  to. 

I  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter's  of  April  23d  and  May  14th.  I 
have  but  just  perused  them,  and  will  answer  them  after  due  deliberation.  I 
am  extremely  sensible  of  &  do  heartily  thank  the  Venerable  Society  for  their 
generous  &  above  board  dealing  with  their  Missionaries.  It  deserves  the 
highest,  encomium  and  will  stand  as  a  signal  specimen  of  their  Justice,  Noble- 
ness and  Mercy,  as  long  as  the  Church  in  these  parts  stands  in  need  of  their 
patronage  &  protection.  There  are  but  two  Missionaries  in  Pensylvania,  Mr. 
Humphreys,  and  myself,  for  as  for  Mr.  Talbot,  we  look  upon  him  as  of  a 
distinct  government,  tho'  he  resides  now  mostly  at  Philada.     Now  as  to  our 


103  [i?i6. 

affection  to  the  Government  of  King  George,  our  demeanour  we  think  has 
been  such  as  all  times  and  in  all  places,  that  our  Loyalty  to  &  love  for  his 
Majesty  King  George  cannot  be  questioned  or  complained  of.  If  it  is  we  are 
ready  to  answer  whatever  may  be  alleged  to  the  contrary.  We  have  never 
presumed  to  vary  from  the  prayers  of  the  Church  by  adding  or  curtailing  in 
one  jot  or  tittle ;  and  if  any  complaints  have  been  made  they  are  false  & 
groundless. 


M\  HUMPHREYS  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Chester,  Aug'  4th  171 6. 
Sir, 

The  Society's  Missionarys  immediately  to  this  province  are  very  few,  at 
present  but  two,  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Clubb,  whom  God  was  pleased  to  take 
from  us  last  Christmas.  So  that  it  must  be  believed  we  have  employment 
enough,  and  did  we  not  painfully  exert  ourselves  beyond  our  proper  mission, 
we  should  soon  see  this  Church  in  the  wilderness  over  run  wth  heresie  and 
Schism.  Mr.  Talbot  indeed  assists  us  very  much  by  takeing  upon  him  the  care 
of  the  Church  of  Philada  of  wch  some  care  must  be  taken  by  us  here,  since 
Mr.  Evans  seems  to  have  no  thoughts  about  it.  It  is  a  wonder  that  he  neither 
comes  himself  nor  sends  any  pious  &  discreet  persons  to  heal  the  breaches 
made  in  that  poor  distracted  Church. 

Sir,  Our  enemies  here  are  mighty  in  number,  subtle  and  diligent  to  propa- 
gate their  Heterodoxys,  and  you  may  be  sure  take  advantage  of  the  present 
deplorable  circumstances  of  the  Church  and  how  easily  are  poor  simple  people 
destitute  of  teachers  imposed  upon  and  seduced  by  crafty  smooth  tongued 
deceivers.  Great  are  the  murmurings  of  these  naked  congregations  against 
the  Venerable  Society  for  their  neglecting  to  send  them  Missionaries,  and  all 
our  arguments  wont  prevent  their  complaints  wch  proceed  from  the  bitterness 
of  their  Souls ;  and  this  is  it  wch  renders  many  of  them  flexible  to  hear  any 
Dissenter  that  offers  himself  unto  them,  wch  is  frequently  done  when  we  are 
at  too  great  a  distance  to  prevent  it.     So  that  great  is  the  danger  of  loosing 


1 71 6.]  104 

multitudes  of  those  poor  people.  How  commendable  would  a  pious  zeal  be 
to  provide  remedies  for  these  great  mischiefs,  how  necessary  to  prevent  the 
ruin  of  the  glorious  product  of  the  Society's  several  years  care  and  charitable 
concern  for  the  Salvation  of  Souls ;  I  have  been  this  day  told  that  the  Dissen- 
ters have  built  a  meeting  house  at  St.  James  where  there  was  a  very  large 
Congregation,  a  handsome  Church  and  a  good  Glebe  wth  a  dwelling  house, 
but  the  want  of  a  Missionary  has  encouraged  the  dissenters  to  attempt  some- 
thing there.         *         *         *         I  am 

Sir,  your  humble  Servant, 

JNO.  HUMPHREYS. 


To  Col1  GOO  KIN  from  the  Secretary, 

May  14th  1716. 
Honrd  Sir, 

The  Society  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  parts  make  it 
their  request  to  your  excellency  that  you  would  inform  them  if  any  of  their 
Missionaries  within  your  governments  are  disaffected  to  the  government  of  his 
Majesty  King  George  and  if  there  be  any  such  that  your  excellency  would  be 
pleased  to  specify  the  matters  of  fact  upon  wch  the  charge  of  such  disaffection 
is  grounded,  and  cause  a  copy  of  such  accusation  to  be  delivered  to  the  per- 
sons accused  before  it  is  transmitted  hither,  that  if  they  have  anything  to  offer 
in  defence  of  themselves  they  may  have  a  speedy  opportunity  of  transmitting 
it  to  the  Society,         I  am,  &c. 


The  Secretary  to  Messrs-  ROSS,  CLUBB  &>  HUMPHREYS. 

May  14th  1 71 6. 
REvd  Sir, 

The  Society  have  ordered  me  to  acquaint  you  and  the  rest  of  your  breth- 


105  [i7!6. 

eren  the  Clergy  with  their  resolution,  at  your  next  meeting  pursuant  to  the 
standing  orders  of  the  Society  (see  order  12  page  2  2d)  you  would  after  en- 
quiry made,  inform  the  Society  if  any  of  your  brethren  are  disaffected  to  the 
government  of  his  Majesty  King  George  and  if  there  be  any  such  that  you 
would  specify  the  matters  of  fact  upon  which  charge  of  such  disaffection  are 
grounded,  and  that  before  it  is  transmitted  hither  you  would  cause  a  copy  of 
such  accusation  to  be  delivered  to  the  persons  accused  that  if  they  have  any- 
thing to  offer  in  defence  of  themselves,  they  may  have  a  speedy  opportunity 
of  transmitting  it  to  the  Society,  the  Society  have  wrote  to  the  several  gover- 
nors of  die  plantations  to  the  same  effect  as  you  will  observe  by  the  inclosed 
which  is  a  copy  of  that  letter. 


M\  GRAFTON  to  M\  DYER. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  May  30,  171 6. 
Dear  Friend, 

*  *  *  This  now  about  2  years  since  I  came  to  live  in  Pennsylvania  and 
in  this  part  of  the  Country  which  I  now  live  in  being  about  50  Miles  from  Phil- 
adelphia where  I  beheld  for  some  time  with  deep  concern  their  careless  man- 
ner of  spending  their  Sabbath  (I  speak  as  to  the  Church  folks),  the  broad 
path  to  all  other  vices,  some  sleeping  the  day  away,  others  in  riding  about,  and 
others  in  drinking.  I  having  tasted  that  the  Lord  is  good  &  that  he  has  been 
infinitely  so  to  me  thought  myself  obliged  to  do  something  for  his  glory  and 
the  good  of  my  fellow  creatures  and  (I  thank  God  I  can  truly  say  without  any 
desire  of  gain  or  ostentation),  I  showed  to  several  of  them  the  evil  conse- 
quence of  their  way  of  living  as  well  as  the  great  scandall  they  brought  upon 
their  profession  particularly  in  this  place  where  Quakerism  was  so  predomi- 
nant. I  proposed  to  them  that  we  might  to  gather  at  a  private  house  on  Sun- 
days being  well  provided  for  by  our  holy  Church  with  suitable  exercise  for 
public  assemblies  &  till  it  shall  please  God  to  bless  us  with  a  Minister  (which 
they  have  not  had  for  three  years  past  when  the  Country  received  a  great  loss 


1716.]  io6 

by  the  death  of  a  very  able  Minister),  having  plenty  of  provision  why  should 
we  starve  because  we  had  not  a  cook  to  dress  it.  I  imagined  the  Country 
was  not  so  barren  but  that  they  might  find  out  some  amongst  them  capable  of 
being  assisting  to  others.  I  set  about  it  in  earnest  &  found  not  much  difficulty 
to  prevail  with  several  of  them  &  about  7  months  past  we  first  began  to  meet 
and  do  still  continue  but  when  we  came  together  I  little  thought  that  the  pub- 
lic performance  would  have  centered  in  me  as  it  has  done.  I  pitched  upon  a 
young  man  of  good  behaviour  and  credit  to  be  assisting  to  me  and  I  desired 
that  he  might  read  the  Lessons,  the  epistle  &  Gospel  and  give  out  the  Psalms. 
The  rest  of  our  service  is  the  same  as  the  Church  directs  usingf  the  collect  in 
the  communion  service,  "  assist  us  mercifully,"  &  instead  of  the  absolution 
always  taken  care  to  avoid  what  is  peculiarly  and  particularly  the  Priest's 
office,  ending  after  a  Sermon  read,  with  Psalm  sung,  then  the  prayer  for  Christ 
Church  militant,  one  or  more  of  the  Collects  in  the  communion  service  and  the 
blessing  of  peace.  Perceiving  that  the  people  having  been  used  to  hear  the 
Quakers  bawling  without  Book  I  thought  it  proper  to  use  a  prayer  without 
Book  before  Sermon  as  is  usual  with  the  laborious  Ministers,  which,  I  believe, 
with  our  regularity  &  good  order  has  prevailed  upon  several  that  was  too  well 
affected  to  Quakerism.  I  know  the  sincere  affection  you  have  for  the  Church 
will  not  think  this  brief  account  tedious.  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  God 
has  &  will  bless  these  weak  endeavors  to  his  glory  &  the  good  of  many  by 
the  people's  earnest  solicitation  with  me  to  undertake  the  work  here  &  have  a 
benefice  allowed  me  (but  I  seek  not  theirs  but  them  &  dare  not  admit  of  any 
interest  lest  it  should  injure  my  intention),  or  go  to  England  with  recommen- 
dation to  the  Bishop  for  orders,  but  I  need  not  mention  to  you  my  weakness 
of  learning,  insufficiency  of  parts,  nor  my  incapacity  of  performing  that  sacred 
function  yet  I  hope  I  shall  not  be  guilty  of  burying  my  talent  in  the  earth  par- 
ticularly when  I  see  so  manifest  a  call  for  it  as  at  present.  *  *  * 
With  my  ardent  love  to  yourself  from  your 

sincere  and  affectionate  friend,  &c., 

RICHARD  GRAFTON. 


io-j  L!7l6- 

ADDRESS  of  the  CHURCHWARDEN  and  VESTRY 
of  OXFORD,  in  PENNSYLVANIA  to  the  HON- 
ORABLE SOCIETY. 


(EXTRACT.) 
Dated  at  Oxford,  the  28th  of  Novr,  1716. 

THE  HUMBLE  ADDRESS  of  the  Churchwardens  and  Vestry  of  Ox- 
ford Church  in  Pensylvania  to  the  Honorable  Society  for  propagation  of 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  parts  HUMBLY  SHEWETH  : 

May  it  please  your  Honours  in  obedience  to  yours  directed  to  us  bear- 
ing date  the  11th  June  last  We  humbly  crave  leave  to  acquaint  you  of  the 
present  state  of  our  small  Infant  Church. 

We  have  about  twenty  families  entire  amongst  us  and  have  subscribed  to 
the  Revd  Mr.  Clubb,  late  deceased,  about  twenty  pounds  per  annum  in  money 
and  Country  produce  which  we  hope  we  shall  never  recede  from,  are  now  on 
purchasing  a  House  and  about  110  acres  of  meadow — and  arable  Land  for 
the  residence  of  a  minister  which  (altho'  it  will  be  very  hard  for  us  to  corn- 
pleat),  yet  with  the  assistance  of  our  neighbouring  Churches,  under  God  we 
doubt  not  but  to  effect  which  will  be  an  addition  to  our  subscriptions :  We 
can  have  no  expectation  of  being  a  Parish  whilst  seven  eighths  of  our  Assem- 
blys  are  Quakers.     *     *     * 


1 71 7.]  108 

COLONEL  GOOKING  to  the  SECRETARY. 


Sir, 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  Jan?  7th,  171*. 


*  *  *  The  Quakers  seeing  the  Church  party  increase  notwithstanding 
the  late  unhappy  divisions  in  it,  which  they  very  artfully  and  industriously 
improved  and  finding  I  would  not  fall  in  with  their  measures  have  laboured 
for  three  or  four  years  to  get  me  out.  They  have  made  several  false  and 
frivolous  complaints  against  me  to  Mr.  Penn  but  hitherto  in  vain.  They  stopt 
all  my  letters  both  on  this  and  that  side  the  water  for  above  a  year  and  a  half 
and  then  gave  Mr.  Penn  such  assurances  that  I  was  dead,  that  several  of  the 
eminent  Quakers  in  London  had  appointed  a  meeting  in  order  to  recommend 
another  which  had  been  done  had  not  my  brother  in  law  Mr.  Rich'1  Berming- 
ham  arrived  with  my  Letters  to  Mr.  Penn.  My  Chief  enemies  are  the  Com- 
missioners of  Property,  viz1,  Rich'1  Hill,  Isaac  Harris  and  James  Logan.  This 
last  has  sworn  after  his  way  that  if  he  could  not  otherwise  remove  me  he 
would  starve  me  out  which  he  has  almost  effected  for  the  Assembly  promised 
me  six  hundred  pounds  a  year  but  have  not  given  a  penny  this  two  year, 
and  by  the  Commissioners  of  Property's  tricks  they  have  reduced  the  per- 
quisites to  less  than  two  hundred  pounds  per  annum.     *     *     * 


COLONEL  GOOKING  to  the  SECRETARY. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  Mar:   16,  171*. 
Sir, 

*       *       *       All  the  Churches  of  this  Province  except  that  of  Chester  are 
vacant — and  all  of  3  lower  Counties  except  New  Castle.     1  hope  now  the  sev- 


109  [i7H- 

eral  vestries  of  the  vacant  Churches  will  be  persuaded  to  address  the  Bishop 
of  London  and  the  Society.  All  my  endeavours  for  that  end  hitherto  have 
been  in  vain.  I  forgot  to  acquaint  you  in  my  last  that  there  never  was  any 
allowance  made  by  Assemblys  for  the  Missioners  nor  is  it  to  be  expected  when 
by  Order  nine  of  Twelve  of  my  Council  are  Quakers,  the  Magistrates 
in  the  same  proportion  and  the  Assembly  23  Quakers  to  3  Churchmen. 
Among  the  laws  of  this  province  lately  printed,  I  find  one  with  this  Title  "an 
acco1  for  impowering  Religious  Societies  to  buy,  hold  and  enjoy  Lands,  tene- 
ments and  hereditamts :  "  t'was  passed  by  me  by  Mr.  Penn's  Order  but  disap- 
proved by  the  late  Queen  and  I  publicly  declared  I  would  not  pass  it  again 
however  they  might  Cook  it  up.  There  was  no  mention  made  to  me  of  it  at 
the  Council  Board  or  otherwise  nor  was  the  title  read  when  I  passed  the  Laws 
lately  sent  home  for  the  Royal  approbation.  This  imposition  on  me  arises 
from  the  Assembly  denying  to  lodge  a  Copy  of  the  Laws  in  the  Secretary's 
Office  before  they  are  printed.  The  manner  of  passing  our  Laws  is  thus,  The 
Titles  are  read,  the  Governor  lays  his  hand  upon  them  and  declares  them  laws, 
then  gives  an  Order  to  affix  the  great  Seal  of  the  Province  to  them  so  that  it 
is  but  altering  the  Title  and  they  may  put  in  and  put  out  as  they  please.  I 
am,  Sir,  Your  most  humble  Serv', 

CHA:  GOOKING. 


GOV*  KEITH  to  the  SOCIETY. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  Sepr  24th,  171 7. 

TO  the  Right  Revd  Fathers,  the  Bishops,  and  the  rest  of  the  Honorable  Mem- 
bers of  the  Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreig?i  parts : 

Right  Revd  &  Honorable, 

*      *      *     It  is  great  satisfaction  that  I  can  assure  this  venerable  Board  of 
the  great  pains  and  diligent  care  which  the  Revd  Gentlemen  within  named  do 


i7i  7-]  no 

daily  set  forth  in  all  the  parts  of  their  ministerial  Function :  and  herein  I  can- 
not but  in  Justice  particularly  recommend  Mr.  Ross  his  Capacity,  pious  Exem- 
plary life,  and  great  Industry  to  your  favorable  notice  and  reward. 

But  I  must  observe  that  the  Duty  here  daily  increases  at  such  a  rate,  and 
the  Laborers  are  so  few  that  without  your  pious  and  immediate  Care  to  relieve 
and  supply  this  languishing  but  valuable  little  Branch  of  the  church,  all  our 
endeavours  will  be  to  no  purpose  in  a  place  so  much  over  run  with  Sectaries 
of  all  kinds,  that  it  certainly  requires  a  much  greater  proportion  both  of 
men  and  parts  than  any  other  place  in  America  to  support  the  Communion 
we  have,  and  to  make  the  best  use  of  the  opportunities  given  for  enlarg- 
ing the  same.     *     *     * 


TO  the  HONORABLE  WILLIAM  KEITH,  Esq.,  Govr 
of  the  Province  of  Pensylvania  and  Counties  of  New- 
castle, Kent  and  Sussex. 


THE   REPRESENTATION  of  the  Clergy  in  the  said  Province  &  Coun- 
ties with  respect  to  the  present  State  of  the  Church  there. 


(EXTRACT.) 


*  *  *  That  there  are  ten  or  Eleven  Churches  most  of  them  completed 
and  well  furnished  within  your  Government  and  but  3  Clergymen  who  have 
their  constant  residence  in  the  same. 

That  two  of  the  Churches  (viz1),  that  in  the  County  of  Kent,  and  the  other 
in  the  County  of  Sussex  are  at  so  great  distance  from  the  several  and  partic- 
ular Cures  of  the  said  Clergymen  in  the  Communion  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land that  it  is  not  possible  for  any  of  them  to  serve  them  so  as  to  prevent  the 
dispersion  that  threatens  them  by  reason  of  the  number  and  Assiduous  appli- 
cation of  dissenting  Teachers  among  them. 

That  an  Itinerant  missionary  at  least  is  highly  necessary  in  the  said  Coun- 
ties, to  put  a  stop  to  the  growing  Evil,  till  better  provision  can  be  made  for 
them. 


in  [17I7> 

That  to  satisfy  our  superiors  at  home  how  much  the  said  Counties  deserve 
their  notice  and  Care,  your  honor,  would  please  to  avouch  our  Revd  Brother, 
Mr.  Ross's  Account  of  what  service  he  did  there  during  the  short  time  he 
attended  upon  your  Honor :  in  the  said  Counties,  and  that  in  consideration 
thereof  you  would  likewise  please  to  recommend  him  to  the  Special  notice  and 
favor  of  our  Benefactors  the  Honble  Society  for  propagation  of  the  Gospel. 

That  the  Churches  that  are  at  present  supplied  by  turns  must  some  of 
them,  viz1,  Apoquiniminck,  Oxford  and  Radnor  be  in  the  same  unsupplied 
Condition  ere  long  that  Kent  &  Sussex  are  in,  by  reason  that  the  Burthen  of 
serving  of  so  many  Churches  cannot  but  prove  in  process  of  time  too  heavy 
for  us,  and  indeed  is  already  what  the  people  to  whom  we  are  particularly  sent 
dislike  and  Grumble  at.     *     *     * 


AN  ACCOUNT  or  HISTORY  of  the  BUILDING  of  Sl 
JAMES'S  CHURCH,  at  White  Clay  Creek,  in  the 
County  of  Newcastle  and  Territories  of  Pensylvania. 


20th  Septr,  1 71 7. 
This  Church,  the  frame  whereof  was  raised  the  4th  of  Decr,  171 6,  lies  at 
10  or  11  miles  distance  from  the  Town  of  Newcastle  ;  and  serves  at  present, 
for  a  Chapel  of  Ease  to  Emanuel  Church  there.  T'is  made  of  wood,  in 
length  32  foot  and  breadth  22  ;  and  stands  upon  a  rising  Ground,  not  far  from 
that  Creek,  whence  the  hundred  where  this  Edifice  lies  borrows  its  name ; 
which  Edifice  when  thoroughly  finished  will  make,  we  think  as  fair  and  com- 
plete an  oratory,  as  any  not  made  of  Brick  within  this  Governm4.  It  was 
opened  the  4th  July,  171 7,  and  is  supplied  at  present  by  the  Revd  Mr.  George 
Rosse,  missionary  of  Newcastle,  within  whose  Cure  the  Inhabitants  about 
Whitclay  have  hitherto  been  always  reckoned.  This  as  well  as  other  Churches 
in  these  parts  was  built  at  the  expence  of  private  persons,  who  some  of  them 
bestowed  liberally  towards  the  work :  But  the  man  to  whom  its  rise,  and  all 
the  perfection  it  has  yet  arrived  to,  must  in  a  particular  manner  be  ascribed,  is 
Mr.  Jas  Robinson,  a  worthy  Zealous  member  of   the  Church,  and  a  liver  at 


171/-]  112 

Whitclay  Creek.  The  special  benefactor  of  S'  James's  Chapel,  besides  the 
pains  he  has  been  at,  about  this  Building  and  the  money  he  has  disbursed 
upon  it,  has  endowed  it  with  somewhat  above  ten  acres  of  Glebeland  for  ever, 
A  Benefaction  however  small  it  may  seem  to  be,  yet  considering  the  use  it  is 
intended  for,  with  the  cheerfulness  of  the  Donor.  This  Relation  of  it,  we 
presume,  cannot  be  but  acceptable  to  the  Honorable  Society,  by  means  of 
whose  Bounty  the  Gospel  is  propagated  far  and  near,  and  especially  among  us 
for  which  we  take  this  opportunity  of  returning  them  our  most  hearty  thanks. 
Given  under  our  hands  at  Newcastle  the  20th  Sepf,  171 7. 

GEO.  ROSS,  Minister. 
Jos.  Wood, 

RowD  Fitzgerald,  j-    Chtirch  Wardens. 

and  others. 


The  SECRETARY  to  M\  TALBOT. 

Aug1  2,  1 71 7. 
Revd  Sir, 

The  Society  have  rec'ed  a  letter  from  Coll  Gooking,  Leiu'  Govr  of  Pen- 
sylvania,  wherein  he  charges  you  with  disaffection  to  the  Governm'  &  refusing 
the  Oaths  of  Allegiance  to  His  Majesty  King  George,  that  you  may  be  able 
to  form  an  exact  Judgm1  of  the  Charge  I  have  given  you  the  Governor's  very 
words  in  his  Letter  inclosed.  The  Society  expect  you  should  forthwith  give 
your  answer  thereto,  and  if  you  have  not  already  taken  the  Oaths  to  his 
majesty  King  George  that  you  do  without  delay,  by  the  first  convenience 
transmit  to  the  Society  an  authentic  Certificate  of  your  having  so  done.  *  *  * 


ii3  [1718. 

The  Humble  Petition  of  ANDW  SANDELL  to  the  Illustri- 
ous Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign 
Parts,  Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  Your  Petitioner  has  exercised  his  ministerial  Function  in  that  prov" 
ince  for  about  18  Years  during  which  time  he  hath  upon  all  occasions  promo- 
ted the  Interest  of  the  English  Church  to  the  Utmost  of  his  power,  as  will 
appear  by  his  Testimonials  in  the  hands  of  the  Right  Revd  the  Lord  Bishop 
of  London. 

That  Your  petitioner  has  a  Wife  and  five  Children  and  since  his  arrival 
into  England,  his  Wife  and  Family  have  been  afflicted  with  Sickness  for  some 
time  which  occasioned  his  stay  here  much  longer  than  he  expected,  and  has 
been  very  chargeable  to  him,  and  Your  Petitioner  being  obliged  to  go  for 
Swedon  before  the  meeting  of  the  Society  has  been  necessitated  to  borrow 
money  of  the  Revd  Mr.  Norbury  Minister  of  the  Swedish  Congregation  in 
London  to  pay  for  his  passage  and  Necessaries  in  the  Voyage. 

Your  Petitioner  therefore  humbly  prays  this  Honble  Society  will  be  pleased 
to  take  his  Case  into  consideration  and  in  regard  to  his  past  services,  and  the 
narrowness  of  his  present  circumstances  to  make  him  such  allowance,  as  you 
in  your  wisdom  shall  think  fit ;  and  that  what  you  shall  be  pleased  to  allow 
him  may  be  delivered  to  the  said  Mr.  Nordburg. 

And  as  in  Duty  bound  he  shall  ever  pray,  &c, 

ANDREW  SANDEL. 


Philadelphia,  Feb7  18th,  1718. 
This  is  to  Certify,  that  the  Revd  Mr.  Andw  Sandel  the  Worthy  Minister  of 
the  Swedish  Congregation  at  Wicaco  near  Philadelphia  in  Pensilvania,  did  not 
only  serve  his  own  Church  in  other  remote  places  with  great  diligence  and 
assiduity  Seventeen  Years,  but  also  cheerfully  embraced  all  opportunities  of 
lending  his  kind  Assistance  to  the  English  Churches  in  this  Province  particu- 
larly that  of  Philadelphia  where  he  hath  without  any  reward  preached  often 


1 71 8.]  114 

in  the  afternoon   for  many  Years,  and  was   ready  upon  all  occasions  in  the 
absence  of  the  Minister  to  supply  the  Church. 

His  conduct  and  good  behaviour  have  been  so  unexceptionable  and  his  life 
and  all  the  parts  of  his  conversation  so  unblameable,  that  even  the  greatest 
enemies  of  the  Church  have  never  been  able  to  reproach  him.  We  cannot 
but  recommend  him  to  the  protection  of  the  Almighty  and  much  lament  the 
loss  of  so  good  a  man  in  these  remote  parts  of  the  World,  because  the  work 
of  the  Lord  hath  prosper'd  in  his  hands. 

He  was  willing  to  have  continued  longer  here  to  exercise  his  pious  labours, 
had  not  his  superiors  at  home  recall'd  him  to  Sweden  to  receive  the  just 
Reward  of  his  Indefatigable  Labours.  He  hath  a  Wife  and  Five  Children 
very  small  and  hath  deserved  so  well  of  the  Clergy  and  laity  amongst  the 
English  of  this  Province,  that  we  think  ourselves  in  Justice  obliged  to  Recom- 
mend him  to  the  pious  consideration  of  all  the  Patrons  of  Religion  particularly 
to  our  Ri<dit  Revd  Diocesan  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  and  the  rest  of  the 
most  Illustrious  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts. 

EVAN  EVANS,  D.D., 
JOHN  TALBOT, 
GEORGE  ROSS, 
JOHN  HUMPHREYS. 


Churchwardens,   &fc,  of  Trinity  Church,  at  Oxford,  in  Pen- 
siivania, to  the  Secretary. 


June  25th,  1 718. 

The  Humble  Petition  of  the   Churchzvardens  and  Divers  of  the  Members  of 
Trinity  Church,  of  Oxford,  in  the  Province  of  Pensiivania,  to  the  Hon6" 
Members  of  the  Most  Illustrious  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the   Gos- 
pel, (jfc,  Humbly  Shewelh  : 

Whereas  we  the  Churchwardens  and  divers  of  the  Members  of  Trinity 
Church  of  Oxford  in  the  Province  of  Pensiivania  being  very  sensible  of  the 
great  loss  and  also  the  want  of  a  constant  minister  for  this  Church  of  Oxford; 


ii5  [i7*8. 

we  know  the  great  want  of  a  good  minister  by  sad  Experience,  particularly 
in  our  great  loss,  in  the  Decease  of  our  late  Godly  minister  the  Revd  Mr.  John 
Clubb  who  was  intirely  beloved  of  this  congregation  who  is  now  we  doubt  not 
entered  into  the  Joy  of  his  Lord.  But  now  since  his  departure  many  of  this 
Congregation  have  drawn  back  and  are  Strayed  away  like  Sheep  having  no 
Shepherd,  some  to  Quakers,  some  to  Anabaptists,  some  to  the  Presbiterians 
and  some  to  the  profane  Sabbatarians,  &c,  to  the  great  grief  of  us  that  have 
an  entire  love  and  a  great  regard  for  the  prosperity  of  the  Protestant  Relig- 
ion of  the  Church  of  England  as  by  law  Established.  Particularly  we 
most  earnestly  petition  for  this  little  branch  of  that  noble  vine  which  by  the 
Good  Providence  of  God  is  begun  to  be  planted  among  us,  and  would  flourish 
and  be  great  we  are  persuaded  if  You  the  Honble  members  of  the  most  Illus- 
trious Society  for  the  propagation  of  the  Glorious  Gospel  in  Foreign  parts 
would  be  pleased  to  grant  our  humble  petitions. 

It  may  not  be  unacceptable  to  their  Honors  to  let  them  know  what  we  are 
doing  to  keep  ourselves  together  in  this  our  necessity  until  we  have  a  minis- 
ter which  will  be  good  news  to  us  when  he  does  come. 

We  humbly  let  their  Honors  know  after  this  manner  we  having  no  minis- 
ter on  a  Sunday  (except  by  chance),  agree  among  ourselves  to  meet  at  the 
House  of  God  every  Sunday  where  one  Nathaniel  Walton  our  school  master 
one  Zealous  for  the  Church  and  of  good  report  among  us  takes  due  pains 
every  Lord's  day  to  read  unto  us  the  Holy  Scriptures  as  they  are  appointed 
to  be  read,  also  the  Prayers  and  Psalms  in  their  Order  and  Course,  and  a  Hom- 
ily or  Sermon  he  reads  every  Sunday  where  also  he  Catechises  the  Children 
that  are  of  the  Church  every  Sunday,  duly  being  20  in  Number  and  more 
often  comes  to  be  Catechis'd  in  the  Church.  What  we  do  in  this  matter  is 
intended  by  us  purely  for  the  Church  and  by  no  means  Against  it.  The  Revd 
Dr.  Evans  gives  us  his  benediction  in  doing  what  we  do,  &  the  Learned  Revd 
Mr.  John  Talbot  highly  commends  us  in  our  Zeal  for  the  Church  :  it  is  by  the 
majority  probatum  est. 

Pardon  our  prolixity,  and  we  humbly  desire  that  their  Honors  will  be 
pleased  to  take  our  Case  and  destitute  condition  into  their  serious  considera- 
tion. An  answer  to  this  is  humbly  craved  and  desired,  By  their  honors'  obe- 
dient and  obliged  Servants, 

PETER  TAYLOR, 

JAMES  MORGAN,  \     Churchwardens. 

and  others. 


1718.]  116 

Inhabitants  of  Lewis   Town  and  Sussex  County,  to  the  Lord 

Bishp  of  London. 


(EXTRACT.) 

To  the  Right  Revd  Father  in  God,  John,  Lord  Bishop  of  London. 

The  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Lewis  &  County  of  Sussex, 
in  the  Government  of  Pensilvania : 

Humbly  Sheweth, 

*  *  *  That  since  that  time  we  have  no  constant  Public  worship  among 
us  according  to  the  rites  of  the  Church  of  England  and  though  formerly  we 
have  made  bold  humbly  to  address  Your  Lordship  for  assistance,  it  hath  fal'n 
out  thro'  the  carelessness  or  neglect  of  those  we  employed  that  our  papers 
have  not  come  to  Your  Lordship's  hands. 

That  the  Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel  in  North  Britain  have  sent 
many  of  their  ministers  into  those  parts  who  having  formed  themselves  into  a 
regular  Ecclesiastical  Society  according  to  the  policy  of  that  Church  and  united 
themselves  to  the  Synod  of  Glasgow  have  appointed  one  of  their  number  to 
this  Town  and  County,  here  they  have  Built  a  meeting  house,  have  adminis- 
tered the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  publicly ;  at  and  before  which  Five 
or  six  of  their  ministers  officiate  by  turns  for  several  days,  which  seeming  Zeal 
for  Religion  and  continued  acts  of  devotion  They  have  already  alienated  the 
affections  of  many  of  our  People  from  the  Church  of  England,  and  the  want 
of  other  Public  Worship  is  likely  to  mislead  many  more.     *     *     * 


ii7  L1?18- 

M\  HUMPHREYS  to  the  SECRETARY, 


(EXTRACT.) 


Chichester,  alias  Marcus  Hook,  near 
Chester,  October  24th,  171 8. 
Sir, 

*  *  *  In  this  province  the  Church  of  Bristol  is  dispersed  and  lost,  thro' 
the  unhappy  frantic  conduct  of  the  Gentlemen  sent  thither,  The  Church  of 
Philadelphia  without  a  Pastor  and  Mr.  Ross  obliged  to  seek  a  competency  for 
a  large  Family  in  Maryland  as  You  will  be  informed  soon,  who  being  an 
excellent  Person,  his  departure  is  much  regretted  by  all  Good  men  and  I  only 
shall  be  left  in  this  Government  where  I  have  taken  up  a  resolution  to  stay 
and  in  order  to  fix  myself  immoveably  in  it  the  necessity  of  having  a  settled 
habitation  for  myself  and  family  has  obliged  me  to  purchase  a  small  plantation 
of  near  100  acres  of  Land  at  this  place  ;  about  3  miles  distant  from  Chester 
the  Church  People  did  attempt  to  build  a  Parsonage  House  there,  but  were 
not  able  to  accomplish  it  and  it  remains  as  it  has  been  this  3  Years  past  about 
4  foot  above  ground  as  a  reproach  to  them  and  an  Infamous  mark  of  their 
Poverty.  I  have  undertaken  to  pay  ^150  this  country  money  for  it.  *  *  * 
Since  Dr.  Evans  left  us  to  go  to  Maryland,  which  was  in  the 
summer,  I  observe  his  turn  to  supply  the  Church  at  Radnor,  which  is  20  miles 
from  home,  once  a  fortnight  upon  Thursday,  likewise  the  Church  at  Oxford 
which  is  28  miles,  so  that  I  preach  every  Lord's-day,  and  every  Thursday  and 
I  never  had  nor  ever  sought  any  thing  for  my  pains.  The  Venerable  Society 
may  rest  assured  that  whilst  I  have  health  and  strength,  these  great  Blessings 
of  Bountious  Heaven,  I  will  exert  them  in  a  diligent  performance  of  the  duties 
of  my  sacred  function  and  the  Lord  be  my  guide  and  reward.  I  am  wholly 
devoted  to  the  Venerable  Society,  &c,     *     *     * 

JOHN  HUMPHREYS. 


1 7 19.]  118 

A  Copy  of  Mr.  Ross's  Letter  to  the  Vestry  of  Philadelphia. 


INCLOSED  IN  HIS  LETTER  OF  THE  22ud  OF  AUGUST,  17 19. 
Gent"., 

I  answer  to  the  kind  invitation  given  me  by  the  ministers  of  the  Vestry 
dated  ...  I  am  now  determined  to  take  the  first  Opportunity  of  writing 
to  my  Lord  Bishop  of  London  for  his  Lordship's  further  directions  about  my 
remove  from  Newcastle  to  Philadelpa. 

For  tho'  I  do  accept  his  Lordship's  offer,  Yet  the  Interest  of  Religion  and 
my  duty  in  the  service  of  the  Church  (which  must  be  preferr'd  before  all  other 
considerations),  will  not  permit  me  to  leave  my  little  flock  at  Newcastlej 
expos'd  to  many  dangers,  until  some  Person  is  appointed  there  in  my  room, 
or  that  some  other  orders  shall  arrive  to  justify  my  conduct  in  that  point. 
Nothing  so  much  as  the  good  disposition,  I  observed  in  You  to  receive  me, 
and  the  hopes,  I  thereby  conceive,  of  being  helpful  thro'  divine  assistance  in 
promoting  the  common  Salvation  among  You,  has  determined  me  to  accept 
of  Your  Cure  upon  any  Terms,  being  sensible  how  unequal  I  am  to  so  great 
an  undertaking.  It  shall  however  be  my  endeavor  to  cultivate  this  disposition 
amongst  You,  I  have  so  much  to  my  satisfaction  found  among  You  ;  persuad- 
ing myself  of  it,  if  it  shall  please  God  we  come  to  be  more  nearly  related, 
You'l  use  me  in  any  way  suitable  to  your  character  and  my  circumstances. 

I  am,  Gentm, 

Your  most  Humble  Serv1, 

GEORGE  ROSSE. 


H9  [i  719- 

M\  HUMPHREYS  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Chester,  Novr  30,  1 719. 


Sir, 

I  have  laid  myself  under  an  Impossibility  of  removing  from 
hence,  or  I  might  do  it  at  least,  to  a  Temporal  advantage  and  since  I  enter- 
tained such  a  thought,  upon  an  offer  the  Worthy  Governor  of  Maryland  made 
me  of  a  Parish,  worth  in  these  good  times  in  that  Province,  no  less  than  Two 
hundred  and  fifty  Pounds  per  Annum,  but  I  could  not  prevail  upon  myself  to 
leave  this  miserable  People  to  the  mercy  of  the  spirit  which  actuates  the 
Quakers,  one  sure  suggestion  whereof  is,  among  others  pernicious  to  Religion, 
That  the  priests  shall  have  no  Revenue.  However  I  submit  to  the  Good 
Providence  of  God ;  which  orders  things  so  much  to  my  Temporal  Disadvan- 
tage, my  hope  in  Christ,  being  in  another  life.  I  humbly  recommend  myself 
to  the  Honble  Society's  Prayers  and  Intreat  them  to  believe  that  the  worst  cir- 
cumstances that  can  befal  me  shall  be  no  occasion  of  the  Neglect  of  my  duty. 
I  have  constantly  attended  the  Welsh  Congregn  at  Radnor  once  a  fortnight, 
and  have  neither  received  nor  demanded  any  gratification,  and  indeed  all  the 
congregation  to  whom  I  have  at  any  time  administered  holy  things  have 
resolved  that  I  have  the  Glory  of  doing  all  for  them  Gratis  ;  my  circumstances 
have  compelled  me  to  draw  irregular  Bills,  but  I  humbly  beg  that  they  may 
not  therefore  be  rejected,  one  thing  I  have,  most  humbly  to  beg  of  the  Vener- 
erable  Society  that  they  would  not  take  from  us  the  6  Pounds  which  they  allow 
to  a  schoolmaster,  if  they  do  I  am  certain  our  Youth  will  loose  all  Christian 
Knowledge  and  Instruction,  and  will  be  extremely  prejudicial  to  the  Church. 
I  humbly  beg  pardon  for  this  prolix  Letter  and  desire  You  believe  me 
to  be, 

Sir, 

Your  very  humble  Serv', 

JOHN  HUMPHREYS. 


1719-]  I2° 

Certificate  in  Behalf  of  D' .  EVANS,  inclosed  in   his    Letter, 

2C)"1  June,  1 7 19. 


Most  Noble  Lords  and  Honble  Gent"., 

This  is  to  certify  that  the  Revd  Dr.  Evans  hath  preached  the  Gospel  at 
Radnor  at  the  House  of  Mr.  Wm  Davis  one  of  the  subscribers,  once  a  Fort- 
night from  Novr  in  the  year,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  all  the  time  he  was 
resident  at  Philadelphia  without  any  reward  from  us,  and  since  his  return  from 
England,  which  was  on  the  twenty-second  day  of  March,  171*,  until  the  latter 
end  of  June  last  past,  he  preached  at  Sl  David's  Church  at  Radnor  and  at 
Trinity  Church  at  Oxford  alternate  every  other  Thursday  (Viz1),  one  Thurs- 
day here  and  another  at  Oxford  aforesaid  during  which  time  he  deported  him- 
self with  prudence,  in  all  respects,  becoming  a  Person  of  his  sacred  character. 
He  laid  the  foundation  of  the  Church  of  England  first  in  these  parts  as  well 
as  other  places  in  this  province,  and  we  have  great  reason  to  lament  his  depar- 
ture, and  that  for  want  of  obtaining  the  Patent  from  his  Majesty  he  was  laid 
under  a  necessity  of  removing  from  Philadelphia  where  he  had  no  suitable 
allowance  from,  to  the  People  of  Maryland,  where  there  is  a  legal  settlement. 

We  are  in  duty  bound  to  pray  for  his  Welfare,  and  that  the  Lord  would 
reward  his  labour  of  Love  to  our  Souls.  Mr.  Humphreys  Preacheth  here 
when  the  affairs  of  his  other  Church  will  permit.  We  desire  your  pious  and 
charitable  Consideration  &  that  you  would  be  pleased  to  send  us  a  minister  to 
Preach  the  Gospel  in  the  British  Language ;  and  tho'  we  are  somewhat 
numerous  we  cannot  promise  to  allow  any  minister  above  Thirty  Pounds  "p 
Annm  Pensilvania  money. 

Therefore  we  humbly  address  your  Lordships  that  out  of  Your  wonted 
goodness  and  Zeal  for  the  Glory  of  God,  and  the  salvation  of  Immortal  souls 
You  would  send  us  a  minister  to  preside  over  us  and  to  direct  us  in  our  way 
to  Eternal  Salvation  with  your  charitable  allowance,  we  are,  &c,  &., 

MERICK  DAVIS, 


EVAN  HUGHES,  Churchwardens. 


William  Davis, 

Thomas  Edwards,  and  others. 


121 


[1719. 

M\  HALTDAT  to  the  Hon1"  Society. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Apoquiminick,  May  10th,  1 71 9. 
May  it  please  Your  Lordships  &  Honors, 

*  *  *  After  my  seven  years  service  in  the  Jerseys,  I  have  left  them, 
being  50  Pounds  in  Debt,  and  bare  of  necessaries,  so  that  I  have  in  obeying 
the  Society's  Orders,  spent  seven  years  the  Prime  and  vigour  of  my  days  in 
Poverty.  In  which  State  I  have  been  trampled  upon  and  misrepresented  to 
the  Society.  Among  Wolves  and  Foxes,  whom  I  served,  I  have  been  devoured 
and  circumvented.  All  this  must  be  imputed  to  my  bad  conduct  while  the 
great  cause  is  the  Iniquity  of  the  People,  and  the  Society's  not  right  Under- 
standing the  state  and  condition  of  those  places  where  they  send  missionary's, 
&  those  places  which  they  suffer  to  be  vacant.  This  I  hope  the  Honble  Soci- 
ety will  take  into  their  mature  consideration. 

I  apprehend  two  objections  against  me  in  this,  first  that  if  I  was  not  pleased 
with  the  Society's  service,  I  might  have  left  it,  and  provided  myself  elsewhere ; 
2ndly,  that  I  am  not  a  good  man,  nor  regular  in  my  conduct,  and  did  not  deserve 
the  encouragement  of  the  People.  To  the  first  I  answer  that  indeed  had  I 
known  the  state  of  the  Church  in  Maryland,  Their  Excellent  Constitution  the 
Honble  provision  for  their  ministers,  I  should  have  spared  putting  the  Honble 
Body  to  any  Charge  for  my  support,  and  saved  all  those  complaints  and  Infor- 
mations that  have  been  given  in  against  me,  but  as  it  would  not  have  been 
prudent  in  me  to  have  thrown  myself  from  a  subsistance,  even  tho'  small,  'till 
I  was  sure  of  another  Provision  ;  so  neither  was  I  willing  to  incur  the  dis- 
pleasure of  your  Lordships,  and  Honors,  by  Violating  your  Laws  in  removing 
from  my  own  cure,  without  Your  Order,  and  there  is  none  here,  no  Bishops 
to  advise,  Govern  and  Protect  us  :  Had  I  been  allowed  by  the  Society's  Laws 
when  I  was  persecuted  in  one  city  to  fly  to  another  ;  Had  it  been  in  my  power 
to  have  settled  in  any  of  the  Churches  under  the  Society's  care,  where  I  could 
have  been  more  acceptable  where  a  minister  was  most  wanted,  and  who  were 
willing  to  have  given  the  most  encouragement,  then  I  should  never  have  any 
thing  to  have  complain'd  of.      As  to  the  2nd  objection,  that  my  own  conduct 


1719-]  I22 

was  the  cause  of  my  misfortunes,  I  answer  the  injustice  of  the  People  to  me, 
poverty,  that  disregard  that  follows  it,  besides  the  underhand  Practices  that 
were  used  for  supplanting  me  might  easily  have  led  even  a  Good  man  to  worse 
things  than  any  they  have  to  charge  me  with ;  The  most  of  which  is  a  too  vio- 
lent resentment  of  Injuries  that  affected  every  thing  that  was  valuable  to  me  ; 
and  People  that  are  prejudiced,  and  have  a  mind  to  find  fault,  will  always  have 
something  or  another  to  say. 

But  if  all  the  fault  was  in  me,  it  is  strange  that  there  should  be  so  surpriz- 
ing an  alteration  upon  a  sudden  remove.  That  there  is  nothing  of  all  these 
complaints  here,  That  the  People  are  so  pleased  with  my  conduct  and  ministe- 
rial Performances,  as  to  encourage  me  with  the  Handsome  allowance  of  Forty 
Pounds  well  paid  and  are  kind  and  respectful  in  their  deportment  and  carriage 
and  treat  me  with  all  that  Goodness  and  civility  I  can  desire. 

The  acceptableness  of  my  service  among  them  is  indeed  what  I  put  a  great 
Estimate  upon,  and  yet  this  People  have  not  been  supplied  of  a  missionary 
these  six  Years,  while  the  ungrateful  ones  in  the  Jerseys,  have  had  a  double 
supply,  starving  and  abusing  those  that  are  sent  to  them.     *     *     * 


A  Representation   of  the   Clergy  of  Pensylvania   to   the 

Secretary. 


To  the  Honb!e  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  parts  : 
A  brotherly  correspondence  so  much  contributes  to  the  promoting  the 
great  end  of  our  mission,  that  did  we  fail  to  maintain  the  one  we  might  justly 
be  charged  with  remissness  in  the  pursuit  of  the  other,  to  obviate  therefore  a 
conclusion  so  reproachful,  we  at  stated  times  meet  together,  to  advise  and 
direct  one  another,  which  is  always  done  with  discreet  freedom  &  gravity  & 
our  conversation  is  managed  with  the  greatest  intimacy  and  affection.  To 
make  our  meetings  useful  to  the  people,  one  of  our  number  preaches  a  ser- 
mon suitable  to  the  occasion,  by  which  method  of  proceeding  our  churches  are 
edified,  &  we  are  examples  of  brotherly  love  &  unity.     We  hope  this  account 


123  [i7J9- 

of  our  agreement  among  ourselves  will  be  the  more  acceptable  to  our  supe- 
riors &  this  our  harmony  being  the  result  of  our  dutiful  compliance  with  their 
wise  instructions  to  that  purpose.  We  are  sensible  our  concord  gives  author- 
ity to  our  proceedings  abroad,  and  if  our  unanimous  representations  do  meet 
with  some  share  of  the  same  creditt  at  home,  the  honour  thereby  done  us,  will 
be  a  motive  for  us  to  proceed  with  vigilance  &  alacrity  in  the  offices  of  our 
mission.  We  begg  leave  at  this  time  to  remind  your  Honble  Body  of  the 
deplorable  state  of  several  Churches  within  this  government,  which  were  once 
filled  with  considerable  numbers  of  Communicants  whose  early  zeal  led  them, 
tho'  poor  to  erect  decent  structures  for  the  publick  worship  of  God  &  some 
of  them  to  build  commodious  houses  for  the  reception  of  their  ministers  but 
their  long  vacancy  by  the  death  of  some  missionaries  &  the  removal  of  others 
has  we  fear  given  too  great  opportunities  to  the  adversaries  of  our  church, 
to  pervert  &  mislead  many  of  them.  The  abovementioned  are  the  Churches 
in  Bucks,  Kent  and  Sussex  Counties.  We  have  done  the  utmost  we  could  in 
our  circumstances  to  keep  those  congregations  together  by  dividing  the  care 
of  them  among  our-selves  &  visiting  them  sometimes,  on  week  days  for  the 
baptizing  their  children,  &  instructing  their  youth,  but  their  great  distance 
from  us  renders  this  service  very  difficult.  We  think  ourselves  obliged  there- 
fore, humbly  to  recommend  their  several  cases  to  the  charitable  Considera- 
tion of  your  pious  Society,  trusting  that  as  you  know  us  to  be  surrounded  on 
all  sides  by  so  many  dangerous  sectaries,  who  are  ever  industrious  to  do  mis- 
chief &  who  are  never  at  a  loss  for  fit  emissaries  for  that  purpose.  So  out  of 
your  pious  inclination  for  the  advancement  of  true  religion,  you  will  be  pleased 
by  a  speedy  supply  of  those  Churches  with  able  Pastors  to  lend  your  helping 
hand  (by  the  blessing  of  God),  to  dissappoint  the  hopes  of  the  enemy  &  pre- 
vent the  ruin  of  many  poor  souls,  who  otherwise  are  in  danger  of  being 
seduced  to  their  delusions,  by  the  cunning  Craftiness  whereby  they  lie  in  wait 
to  deceive. 

In  the  mean  time  we  cannot  but  take  notice  of  the  signal  services  which  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Hesselius  &  Mr.  Leidenius,  two  Swedish  missionaries,  have 
done  and  continue  to  do  to  our  vacant  churches,  who  are  so  far  masters  of 
the  English  tongue,  as  to  preach  fluently  in  it  &  with  good  success.  Their 
provision  here  is  very  mean  &  inadequate  to  their  worth.  In  justice  therefore 
as  well  as  gratitude  to  those  our  fellow  helpers  we  cannot  but  heartily  recom- 
mend their  Case  to  you  humbly  hoping  that  you  will  be  pleased  to  encourage 


1722.]  124 

their  pious  labours  by  distinguishing  them  by  some  marks  of  your  favour  from 
other  foreign  ministers  on   the  main  of  America,  who  instead  of  aiming  as 
they  do  at  incorporating  with  us  are  strenuous  abettors  of  the  separation. 
Signed, 

GEORGE  ROSS, 
JOHN  VICARY, 
JN°.  HUMPHREYS, 
ROBT  WEYMAN. 


CLERGY  OF  PENNSYLVANIA  to  the  Society. 


Philadelphia,  March  22,   1722. 
Sir, 

Mr.  William  Skinner  having  signified  to  us  his  design  of  going  for  England 
in  a  short  time  on  the  encouragement  of  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  to  offer 
himself  a  Candidate  for  Holy  Orders,  We  think  ourselves  obliged  to  em- 
brace this  opportunity  of  paying  our  most  dutiful  acknowledgments  to  the 
Honble  Society  for  the  regard  they  have  been  pleased  to  shew  to  our  late 
representation  of  the  State  of  the  Vacant  Churches  in  these  parts  and  partic- 
ularly for  sending  the  Revd  Mr.  Becket  who  came  very  seasonably  to  supply 
the  vacant  Churches  in  Sussex  County  where  he  has  met  with  a  kind  recep- 
tion from  the  people.  We  have  good  reason  to  believe  he  will  prove  a  useful 
missy  and  in  all  respects  answer  the  Soc'y's  expectations.  Amidst  their  com- 
mon concern  for  the  promotion  of  our  most  holy  religion  we  hope  the  honor- 
able Society  will  not  be  unmindful  of  filling  the  other  vacancies  especially 
Apoquinomick  which  since  the  death  of  Mr.  Halliday  is  occasionally  supplied 
by  the  Revd  Mr.  Hesselius  who,  together  with  his  Brother  Lidenius,  are  not 
a  little  encouraged  to  continue  their  good  Offices  to  our  Church  from  the 
present  the  Honble  Society  were  pleased  to  make  them  and  the  promise  of 
their  further  favors,  but  more  especially  as  they  themselves  desire  to  have  it 
expressed,  from  the  Honble  Soc'y's  kind  acceptance  of  their  mean  labors.  At 
this  our  general  meeting  we  have  received  a  petition  from  the  Inhabitants  of 


125  [1722. 

Salem  which  together  with  this  we  have  transmitted  to  yourself  in  order  to  be 
laid  before  the  Society  desiring  at  the  same  time  that  you  would  be  pleased 
to  inform  them  that  there  is  not  a  missionary  in  all  new  West  Jersey  and  that 
we  are  of  opinion  if  one  was  sent  thither  It  might  be  in  his  power  to  do  very 
considerable  service.  We  doubt  not  but  that  it  will  be  acceptable  to  our 
Superiors  to  hear  that  we  continue  a  Brotherly  correspondence  which  we  find 
by  experience  to  be  serviceable  to  the  main  end  of  our  mission  as  it  tends  to 
maintain  a  decent  respect  to  our  function  and  in  some  measure  the  want  of 
an  Ecclesiastical  Govr  personally  to  preside  amongst  us.  If  the  Bearer,  Mr. 
Wm  Skinner,  after  his  ordination  should  be  inclined  to  apply  himself  to  our 
honble  patrons,  you  may  assure  them  that  his  Certificates  to  the  Lord  Bishop 
of  London  were  signed  by  us  and  we  hope  they  are  full  and  sufficient.  We 
have  nothing  to  add  but  the  tender  of  our  most  sincere  regards  to  the  Hon'ble 
Soc'y  and  that  we  are, 
Sir, 

Your  most  humble  serv'ts, 

John  Vicary,  R.  Church  of  Philadelphia. 

Geo.  Ro.^s,  missy  of  Church  of  New  Castle. 

Robt  Weyman,  missy  of  Oxon  &  Radnor. 

WM  Harrison,  missy  of  Hopewell,  &c. 


M\  BECKET  to  the  SECRETARY. 


Lewes  Town,  Ap1  14th,  1722. 
Sir, 

In  obedience  to  the  Orders  I  was  favored  with  by  the  Hon'ble  Soc'y,  I 
here  send  you  an  account  of  the  present  state  of  my  parish.  I  have  three 
places  to  officiate  at,  one  in  Lewe's,  another  eight  miles  distant  and  a  third  25 
miles  distant  from  Town.  I  have  a  very  considerable  number  of  hearers  at 
all  the  places  but  cannot  as  yet  give  any  certain  account  of  their  number  by 
reason  of  my  so  short  acquaintance.  Since  my  coming  I  have  baptized  55 
persons,  9  whereof  are  adults  and  there  is  a  manifest  change  in  the  manners 


i722-]  126 

and  lives  of  the  people.    Several  whereof  that  before  were  very  much  addicted 
to  drunkenness,  swearing,  &c,  vices  crept  in  amongst  them  for  want  of  a 
spiritual  guide,  are  now  very  much  reformed  for  which  service  I  have  received 
Thanks  of  the  magistrates  &  Gentlemen  of  the  Church   of  England  in  our 
County  but  how  much  esteem   they  have  for  me  the  address  or  Letter  of 
Thanks  which  herewith  is  humbly  presented  will  best  demonstrate  and  how 
sensible  they  are  of  the  favors  the  Hon'ble  soc'y  has  shewed  them.     The  peo- 
ple here  are  remarkably  zealous  for  the  worship  established  in  the  Church  of 
England  which  is  evident  from  their  building  two  Churches  at  distant  places 
in  the  County  before  they  had  a  prospect  of  a  minister  and  appointing  sober 
laymen  to  read  the  Prayers  of  the  Church  to  keep  the  people  steady  to  their 
principles  and  free  from  Sectaries.     There   is  no  Church  built  yet  in  Lewes 
but  we  have  within  this  two  months  past  entered  into  a  subscription  on  that 
account  and  shall  proceed  to  erect  one  with  all  possible   expedition  and  till 
that  be  done  I  am  obliged  to  preach  in  the  most  convenient  House  I  can  get 
in  Town.     My  necessary  Travels  to  propogate  the  Gospel  in  our  large  Coun- 
ty are  no  less  than   70  or  80  miles  every  week  but  I  grudge  not  my  labor 
while  I  am  serving  God  and  my  generation.     The  people  have  been  very 
ignorant  in  religious  matters  but  I  hope  in  sometime  I  shall  be  able  to  give  a 
better  account  of  them.     My  communicts  at  Easter  last  were  no  more  than  10 
but  I  do  not  despise  the  beginning  of  small  things.     We  are  in  very  great 
want  of  Common  Prayer  Books  and  Church  Catechisms  none  beino-  to  be  o-ot 
for  money  here  and  could  I  beg  the  favor  of  a  Cambridge  Concordance  from 
the  Society  I  should  be  extremely  thankful  having  no  such  Book.    Be  pleased, 
Sir,  to  lay  before  the  Hon'ble  Society  what  of  this  you  think  proper  and  to 
pardon  me  for  troubling  you  with  so  long  an  account.     This  with  my  humble 
duty  to   the  Hon'ble  Soc'y  &  and  my  humble  service  to  yourself  is  all  at 
present  from, 

Sir, 

'Your  most  obliged  ob1,  and  most  humble  servant. 

WM  BECKETT. 


127  [1722. 

M".  HARRISON  to  the  SECRETARY. 


Philadelphia,  May  31st,  1722. 
Sir, 

Having  since  my  arrival  in  America  been  hindered  by  various  accidents 
from  acquainting  the  Right  Hon'ble  and  Revd  Society  of  my  proceedings 
there,  being  by  a  long  winter  prevented  from  getting  up  the  River  also  being 
set  on  shore  at  Lewes  Town,  200  miles  from  Hopewell,  so  that  it  was  almost 
the  beginning  of  Lent  before  I  left  that  place  or  could  reach  Burlington  where 
I  rec'd  a  Letter  from  the  Revd  Mr.  Vicary  relating  the  said  Estate  of  the 
Church  of  Philadelphia  at  that  time,  he  requesting  me  to  come  for  one  or  two 
Sundays  to  assist  him.  Hearing  at  Burlington  that  the  Church  at  Hopewell 
was  out  of  repair  and  that  they  requested  I  would  stay  there  until  they  should 
provide  me  a  House  and  the  surplice  &  Books  should  be  brought  down  they 
being  at  some  distance  in  the  Country,  I  went  to  Philadelphia  and  stayed  two 
Sundays  ;  then  proceeded  on  my  Journey  to  Mr.  Trent's  House  with  a  Letter 
from  the  Hon'ble  Sir  William  Keith,  Baronet,  Govr  of  Pennsylvania  and  an- 
other from  the  Revd  Mr.  Vicary  requesting  Mr.  Trent  and  others  to  permit 
my  serving  the  Church  during  the  time  of  Lent  and  Easter  Holidays  which 
they  complied  with  and  I  returned  to  Philadelphia  to  serve  the  Church  during 
the  said  time.  On  Tuesday  in  Easter  week  the  Clergy  met  at  Philadelphia. 
They  did  me  the  Honor  to  ask  me  to  be  one  of  their  number  and  also  to 
preach  before  them.  They  were  also  pleased  to  appoint  the  missionaries  to 
serve  the  said  Church  in  the  manner  following:  The  Revd.  Mr.  Becket  for 
April  and  September,  myself  May  and  July  and  the  first  week  in  June  and  the 
first  in  August  the  other  ministers  to  succeed  me  three  weeks  in  June  and 
three  weeks  in  August  the  Revd.  Mr  Ross  and  Mr.  Humphrys  to  serve  Octo- 
ber between  them.  In  April  I  went  to  my  own  place  with  a  man  Servant  I 
brought  from  England  and  my  goods.  I  took  the  best  House  I  could  get 
and  stayed  my  month  &  am  now  at  Philadelphia.  I  intend  next  week  to  re- 
turn home.  If  I  have  erred  in  these  my  movements  I  hope  it  will  be  forgiven 
and  imputed  to  my  desire  of  serving  the  Church  for  I  have  noways  lessened 
my  labors,  there  being  much  to  be  performed  in  this  place.  Here  is  a  very 
regular  congregation  at  a  public  time,  near  150  Communicants,  monthly  80  or 


1722.]  128 

90.  I  have  been  treated  here  with  the  utmost  good  nature  and  humanity  and 
do  firmly  believe  it  has  been  by  mismanagement  that  Gentlemen  have  been 
no  better  treated  formerly.  They  would  not  be  brought  to  distinguish  be- 
tween a  subscription  and  an  establishment  for  no  people  that  have  common 
sense  will  be  huff'd  into  compliance  when  the  power  of  acting  is  in  themselves. 
I  beg,  sir,  my  thanks  may  be  given  to  the  Right  Hon'ble  and  Venerable  So- 
ciety for  the  Honors  &  Favors  bestowed  on  me.  I  will  do  all  in  my  power 
to  perform  the  charge  faithfully  that  I  have  received  from  them.  In  my  next 
I  will  give  as  full  account  as  possible  of  my  own  place  and  people.  The  gene- 
rality of  people  in  Town  and  Country  are  well  inclined  but  want  much  more 
of  the  Gentleman  to  please  them  and  one  who  can  both  awe  and  please  them 
at  the  same  time  and  I  think  a  much  greater  man  is  required  here  than  at 
home  for  the  moment  they  see  any  man  deficient  they  both  starve  and  despise 
him.     After  my  duty  once  more  given  to  the  Hon'ble  Soc'y  I  serve 

I  am,  Sir, 

Your  most  humble  Serv1, 

WM  HARRISON. 


Messrs.  HESSELIUS  §f  LIDENIUS  to  t/ie  Secretary. 


Sir, 

We  think  ourselves  very  happy  to  be  thought  worthy  of  the  Hon'ble 
Soc'y's  notice,  and  that  they  have  been  pleased  to  signify  to  us  by  your's  that 
they  approve  of  our  poor  labors  here  in  the  service  of  the  excellent  Church 
of  England  and  as  we  are  unfeignedly  thankful  for  this  consideration  in  them 
so  do  we  retain  a  grateful  sense  of  the  favor  of  our  Brethren  here  for  the 
representation  they  made  in  our  behalf,  We  have  and  by  God's  assistance 
ever  shall  preserve  with  them  the  strictest  unity  &  Brotherly  affection  as  think- 
ing ourselves  engaged  in  the  same  Common  Cause  as  well  as  being  sensible 
how  nearly  we  are  allied  in  the  purity  of  Doctrine  and  worship.  Though  we 
had  no  view  of  worldly  interest  when  we  first  engaged  in  the  service  of  the 
English  Churches  here  yet  our  circumstances  will  not  permit  us  to  refuse  the 
kind  offer  made  by  the  Hon'ble  Soc'y.     The  participation  of  their  worldly 


I29  [1723. 

benefits  shall  make  us  doubly  diligence  in  their  service  and  we  trust  that  our 
labors  will  have  such  effect  as  will  be  matter  of  the   Honorable  Soc'y's  and 
our  rejoyceing  at  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
We  are,  Sir, 

Your  most  humble  servants, 

ANDR.  HESSELIUS, 
ABRAH.  LIDENIUS, 

Missys  from  Swedeland. 


M\   WETMAN  to  the  Secretary. 

Philadelphia,  4th  April,  1723. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  had  the  honor  of  yours  by  the  Revd  Mr.  Skinner  and  am  well  pleased  to 
find  that  the  Hon'ble  Society  are  enclined  to  establish  me  wholly  at  Oxon  and 
to  make  some  provision  likewise  for  the  people  at  Radnor  who  require  a  per- 
son of  years  and  well  conversant  in  the  Welch  tongue  to  reside  amongst  them 
and  to  visit  them  from  house  to  house  as  well  as  to  preach  to  them,  for  fre- 
quent conference  with  them  in  their  own  language  is  the  most  likely  method 
that  I  can  think  off  in  order  to  recover  them  from  their  errors  and  to  bring 
them  to  a  conformity  to  our  holy  mother  the  church  to  which  many  of  them 
are  inclined  but  cannot  be  brought  over  by  mere  Itinerant  preaching.  Mr. 
Jones  that  you  mentioned  to  me  as  a  person  to  employ  in  the  business  of  a 
Schoolmaster  for  that  place  is  in  nowise  worthy  of  the  Honble  Society's  Patron- 
age and  encouragement,  for  he  is  a  mere  individium  vagum  and  not  to  be 
found  in  that  place  nor  any  where  else  that  I  know  off. 

The  congregation  at  Oxon  does  increase  and  are  inclinable  to  pur- 
chase a  Glebe  in  a  convenient  time  and  place  for  the  accommodation  of  a 
Minister ;  a  certain  Widow  Gentlewoman,  Mrs.  Sarah  Fellows,  having  already 
given  the  sum  of  Eighty  pounds  Proclamation  money  to  the  Church  wardens 
as  a  bounty  for  that  purpose  which  will  be  applied  accordingly  and  I  hope 
may  prove  an  inducement  to  others  to  do  likewise. 


130  [1723. 

I  have  nothing  further  at  present  to  offer  to  the  consideration  of  the  hon'ble 
soc'y,  but  that 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

ROBERT  WEYMAN. 


Sir  WILLM  KEITH  to  the  Venerable   Society. 


Philadelphia,  6th  April,  1723. 
Right  Honorable, 

The  Reverend  Mr.  Harrison  your  Missionary  for  Hopewell  and  Maiden- 
head in  New  Jersey  having  communicated  to  me  his  intentions  of  returning  to 
England  so  soon  as  he  can  obtain  your  letter  of  leave,  and  I  having  sufficient 
opportunity  to  be  very  well  acquainted  with  that  Gentleman  during  the  time 
that  he  generously  supplied  the  service  of  the  Church  at  Philadelphia  last 
year,  I  have  now  made  a  progress  to  with  your  permission  which  is  hereby 
most  humbly  requested  that  he  remain  one  or  two  years  longer  here  with  me 
in  this  Province  in  order  to  settle  a  new  Congregation  at  Horsham  about  20 
Miles  distance  from  this  City  where  I  have  lately  made  a  considerable  settle- 
ment and  where  the  people  who  chearfully  attend  every  Sunday  to  hear  the 
prayers  of  the  Church  read  by  a  Layman  seem  very  desirous  to  have  a  Minis- 
ter established  amongst  them. 

For  the  encouragement  of  this  good  work  I  have  promised  the  people  to 
give  a  sufficient  quantity  of  convenient  land  and  to  build  a  commodious  little 
Church  for  them  at  my  own  charge  so  that  if  the  Venerable  Society  will  be 
pleased  to  continue  their  Missionary  Mr.  Harrison  with  me  till  this  design  be 
compleated,  I  doubt  not  but  with  such  assistance  I  shall  be  able  to  bring  the 
people  into  a  better  way  of  supporting  their  Minister  than  has  been  usually 
practised  in  those  parts.  This  proposition  with  all  the  deference  and  respect 
imaganable  is  humbly  submitted  to  your  Venerable  Body  by, 

Right  Hon'ble,  &c, 

WM  KEITH. 


131  [1723. 

THE   CLERGY  of  PENNSYLVANIA  to  the  Secretary. 


Chichester,  near  Chester,  in  Pennsylvania,  24  Oct.  1723. 
Sir, 

Yesterday  we  the  Clergy  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  terri- 
tories annexed  to  it  met  in  this  place  in  pursuance  of  those  Rules  formerly 
agreed  upon  among  ourselves  and  so  approved  of  by  our  Hon'ble  Patrons 
and  benefactors. 

We  have  no  affairs  of  importance  to  lay  before  the  Hon'ble  Society  at  this 
time  saving  the  peace  and  tranquility  of  those  churches  that  are  supplied  with 
Missionaries  in  this  Province  and  the  unwearied  solicitations  of  those  who 
are  not  as  yet  arrived  to  that  happiness. 

The  Church  of  New  castle  is  in  a  fair  way  to  gain  more  ground  than  ever 
by  reason  that  there  now  is  no  Presbyterian  Teacher  there  nor  likely  to  be, 
the  person  that  resided  there  being  forced  to  quit  his  hold  for  want  of  a  com- 
petent maintenance.  The  house  of  God  in  that  place  through  the  unskilful- 
ness  or  carelessness  of  the  first  builders  was  nigh  coming  to  the  ground 
but  now  is  in  a  way  of  being  thoroughly  repaired  by  the  vigilence  of  the  In- 
cumbent and  will  prove  fairer  and  more  commodious  than  heretofore  it  hath 
been. 

The  Church  at  Chester  with  those  Congregations  that  depend  upon  it  are 
in  a  flourishing  condition  as  appears  to  us  from  the  numerous  and  regular 
auditor)'  that  were  present  at  our  convention  sermon  in  this  place.  Those  of 
this  Church  have  shewn  of  late  a  heartier  disposition  to  support  their  Minis- 
ter than  hitherto  they  had  expressed  and  we  hope  they  will  not  give  occasion 
for  us  to  repent  our  making  this  Honble  mention  of  them. 

The  Church  of  Oxford  have  received  a  considerable  increase  in  their  num- 
ber since  the  little  feuds  have  been  allayed  by  the  good  and  mild  manage- 
ment of  their  pastor. 

The  Church  of  Radnor  which  is  likewise  under  the  inspection  of  the  Mis- 
sionary at  Oxford  is  the  only  congregation  that  labours  under  any  uneasiness 
for  want  of  a  Missionary  constantly  to  reside  amongst  them  which  as  it  is  not 
in  the  power  of  the  Revd  Mr.  Weyman  to  remedy  so  we  humbly  recommend 
their  case  to  the  Hon'ble  Society. 


1723.]  132 

The  Church  in  Sussex  hath  a  prosperous  aspect.  The  people  are  build- 
ing a  new  church  at  Lewes  and  finishing  2  small  chapels  in  other  parts  of 
that  county  which  notwithstanding  their  present  state  of  inconveniency  for 
divine  service  are  constantly  and  duly  frequented  by  great  numbers  of  people. 

The  vacant  churches  are  Kent,  Apoquiniminck,  &  Bristol,  besides. — 

Churches  built  lately  at  some  considerable  distance  from  Philadelphia ;  the 
one,  Perquitromen  which  was  opened  and  taken  possession  of  for  the  service 
of  the  Church  of  England  by  some  of  our  Members  about  2  years  ago  and 
the  other  at  White  Marsh  where  divine  service  hath  not  been  as  yet  per- 
formed. 

The  church  at  Kent  are  very  importunate  for  a  speedy  supply  as  will  ap- 
pear to  the  Hon'ble  Society  from  their  humble  Petition  and  representation  to 
that  purpose  and  in  their  behalf  we  beg  leave  to  become  humble  supplicants 
in  a  particular  manner  being  well  assured  that  a  plentiful  Harvest  is  to  be 
reaped  there. 

The  Revv  Mr.  Hesselius  hath  undertaken  to  recommend  the  State  of 
Apoquiniminck  to  the  Hon'ble  Society  in  which  affair  we  persuade  ourselves 
he  will  exert  himself  to  the  utmost  so  that  we  need  not  repeat  our  former 
solicitations. 

We  have  nothing  at  present  to  represent  in  particular  with  respect  to 
other  vacant  churches  saving  that  they  have  all  a  longing  desire  to  have  such 
accounts  from  the  Society  whereon  to  ground  a  firm  expectation  of  being 
supplied  with  all  conveniency. 

The  Church  at  Salem  though  not  in  our  Province  hath  been  formerly  made 
mention  of  in  our  letters  to  the  Hon'ble  Society.  What  supply  it  hath  or  ever 
had  is  from  our  body,  therefore  when  we  recommend  them  afresh  we  may  be 
allowed  to  know  their  extream  necessity. 

We  crave  leave  before  we  conclude  to  acquaint  the  Society  that  the  Cer- 
tificate, procured  by  Mr.  Harrison,  Missionary  for  Hopewell,  from  certain  per- 
sons in  Philadelphia  to  justify  his  conduct  there  and  to  contradict  what  was 
said  of  him  in  that  respect  by  some  of  us,  was  obtained  in  a  clandestine  man- 
ner and  by  the  instance  of  a  Gentleman  who  strove  to  oblige  him  in  opposi- 
tion to  the  Revd  Mr.  Vickary  deceased.  The  said  certificate  goeth  under  the 
name  of  the  Vestry  and  Wardens  when  at  the  same  time  no  vestry  was 
called  upon  that  occasion  but  the  persons  who  signed  it  were  wrote  upon  from 
house  to  house  to  join  in  an  affair  they  were  altogether  unacquainted  with. 


133 


[i723- 


We  are  with  the  utmost  gratitude  and  submission  to  our  Hon'ble  bene- 
factors, 

Sir,  your  very  much  obliged  and  most  humble  Servants, 

Robt  Weyman. 
WM  Becket. 
Abrm  Lidenius. 
Jonas  Lidman. 
Jn°.  Talbot, 
Geo.  Ross. 
Jn°.  Humphreys. 
Vera   Copia. 

Examd  &  compared 
^  Geo.  Ross. 
Robt  Weyman. 


M\    TALBOT  to  the  Secretary. 


Philadelphia,  9th  December,  1723. 
Revd  Sir, 

This  place  is  my  head  quarters.  I  was  taken  very  ill  in  the  church  last 
Sunday  at  Burlington  with  Cholera  Morbus  so  that  I  was  forced  to  leave  the 
church.  After  I  read  the  Psalms  I  could  go  no  further.  After  I  had  laid  by 
some  days  I  came  down  to  Philadelphia  to  consult  the  Doctor  and,  thank  God, 
I  have  had  my  health  very  well.  When  I  can  get  any  help  I  send  them  to  Bur- 
lino-ton  and  go  myself  some  times,  but  'tis  a  thousand  pities  this  place  should 
be  destitute.  Here  are  much  people  and  tho'  they  are  poor,  they  ought  not 
to  be  lost  for  lack  of  looking  after.  They  are  well  rid  of  with  [blank  in  MS.~\ 
at  last.  He  was  worse  than  Phillips  and  would  not  go  away  till  he  was 
starved  out.  Here's  nothing  but  a  little  paper  coin  current,  neither  money, 
credit  nor  Tobacco.  The  best  of  the  people  had  left  the  church  so  they 
would  muster  nothing  but  they  would  give  him  some  what  to  go  away  so 
they  got  rid  of  him  at  last.     Col1  Coxe  and  Mr.  Trent  have  done  their  parts 


1722].  i34 

towards  the  Society's  house  at  Burlington.  They  have  put  it  all  in  good 
order  both  within  and  without.  The  Gardens,  Orchard  and  pasture  are 
fenced  all  round  and,  what  is  more  than  ever  was  done,  they  have  got  an 
honest  man  (as  we  suppose),  to  live  there  as  Adam  did  in  Paradise  to  dress 
it  and  keep  it  so  'tis  fit  now  for  any  Governor  in  Church  or  State.  Mr.  Bur- 
net has  been  there  this  quarter  almost,  &  he  says  'tis  more  pleasant  than  Salis- 
bury in  England.  Therefore  I  am  not  fallen  out  with  my  first  love,  Dear 
Bur:  but  I  have  some  pity  of  poor  Philadelphia.  Because  she  has  none  to 
help  her,  there  is  most  need  there  at  present.  I  can  do  most  good  till  some 
body  else  comes  so  I  commend  myself  and  service  to  the  Hon'ble  Society  & 
desiring  their  prayers  I  rest  their  & 

Your  humble  Servant, 

JO:  TALBOT. 

P.  S.  I  have  enclosed  a  Memoran™  from  the  Collector  here  about  the 
Royal  bounty  &  I  desire  that  it  may  be  laid  before  the  board  that  they  may 
see  and  know  where  it  sticks.  The  Schoolmaster  here  one  Mr.  Walter  Jones 
was  going  away  but  I  persuaded  him  to  stay  another  half  year  till  we  hear 
further  about  that  business. 


MEMBERS  of  the  Church  of  England  in  Kent  County. 


Kent  County,   Super  Delaware, 
in  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania, 

Octr.  20th,  1722. 

To  the  R'.  Revd.  Father  in  God  Edmund  Lord  BP  of  London  &  the  other 
Lords  &  Gentlemen  of  the  Hon'ble  Society  for  Propagation  of  the  Gospel 
in  Foreign  parts, 

Humbly  sheweth, 

That  whereas  we,  your  petitioners,  having  at  heart  above  all  other  things 
the  Honor  of  God  &  the  Salvation  of  our  Souls  &  for  that  end  being  very 
desirous  that  a  sound  and  orthodox  Minister  of  God's  word  might  be  sent  to 


•35  ['722. 

&  settled  among  us  that  so  we  might  be  the  better  instructed  in  our  duty  & 
have  the  benefit  of  God's  holy  word  &  sacraments  duly  administered  to  us, 
did,  about  the  space  of  20  years  ago,  make  our  humble  application  to  the 
Hon'ble  Society  &  at  our  humble  request  had  a  Missionary  sent  over  to  us 
(The  Revd.  Mr.  Crawford),  and  again  upon  our  humble  address  some  years 
after;  another  was  sent  over  to  us  (the  Revd.  Mr.  Henderson),  who  left  us 
anno  1 71 1.  The  occasion  of  their  departure  from  us  having  been  particularly 
reported  to  the  Hon'ble  Society  at  the  times  when  they  severally  left  us  we 
humbly  suppose  that  a  repetition  thereof  at  this  time  is  unnecessary.  But  so 
it  is  that  since  that  time  we  have  been  wholly  destitute  of  a  sound  &  faithful 
minister  of  Jesus  Christ  &  a  great  number  of  our  people  are  by  this  means 
gone  over  to  the  Presbyterians  and  Quakers.  Our  house  for  religious  wor- 
ship built  for  the  service  of  the  Church  of  England  is  empty ;  meeting  houses 
are  full ;  enthusaists  abound  ;  the  Sabbath  is  profaned  ;  the  interest  which  the 
church  of  England  once  had  here  is  in  great  danger  to  be  entirely  lost,  and 
we  your  said  humble  Petitioners  have  no  opportunity  to  worship  God  pub- 
licly in  a  manner  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God  &  our  own  consciences. 
Wherefore  we,  your  Lordships  most  humble  petitioners,  the  subscribers  do 
most  earnestly  request  that  your  Lordships  will  be  pleased  graciously  to  con- 
sider this  our  desolate  condition  &  to  send  us  with  what  convenient  speed 
may  be  a  priest  of  the  Church  of  England  to  instruct  and  edify  us  in  the  most 
Holy  Faith  of  our  Lord  &  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  and  we  humbly  request  that 
the  Hon'ble  Society  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  parts  will 
be  kindly  pleased  of  their  wonted  goodness  in  consideration  of  our  poor  and 
low  estate  to  bestow  on  such  Missionary  their  accustomed  bounty.  And  we 
do  promise  hereby  that  we  shall  be  ready  &  willing  to  contribute  to  the  better 
support  of  such  Missionary  according  to  the  best  of  our  abilities  to  express 
our  utmost  gratitude  for  so  desirable  blessing.  And  your  sd  Petitioners  as  in 
duty  bound  shall  ever  pray,  &c, 

Tho  :  French, 
Ja:  Worrell, 
John  Curtis  &  others. 


1724.]  136 

QUERIES  to  be  answered  by  the  persons  who  were  Commissa- 
ries to  my  Predecessor. 


Mr. Minister  of  Philadelphia  is  desired  to  answer  these  Queries. 

What  public  acts  of  Assembly  have  been  made  and  confirmed  relating  to 
the  Church  or  Clergy  within  that  Government? 

Ans.   None  nor  is  there  any  likelyhood  of  obtaining  any  such   while 
the  Quakers  bear  the  chief  sway  in  this  Government. 
How  oft  hath  it  been  usual  to  hold  a  visitation  of  the  Clergy — how  oft 
have  you  called  a  Convention  of  them  ?  and  what  has  been  the  business  ordi- 
narily done  and  the  method  of  proceeding  in  such  Meetings? 

Ans.  There  never  was  any  Commissary  appointed  in  this  Government 
notwithstanding  the  proposals  that  were  made  by  your  Lordship's 
Predecessor  to  the  Revd  Mr.  Ross. — The  Missionaries  however  have 
held  conventions  twice  a  year  for  Brotherly  correspondence  pursu- 
ant to  the  directions  of  the  Honorable  Society. 
Does  any  Clergyman  Officiate  who  has  not  the  Bishop's  License  for  that 
Government? 

Ans.  One  only  at  present — Dr.  Whelton  at  Philadelphia  with  whom  we 
have  no  correspondence  nor  of  whom  have  we  any  further  knowl- 
edge but  that  we  hear  he  professes  to  have  come  into  these  parts 
only  to  see  the  Country. 
What  Parishes  are  there  which  have  yet  no  Churches  or  Ministers  ? 

Ans.  There  being  no  public  acts  for  a  legal  establishment  of  the 
Church  here  the  distinction  of  Parishes  is  yet  unknown  in  this  Gov- 
ernment but  there  are  several  large  tracts  of  land  inhabited  where 
there  is  neither  Church  nor  Minister,  and  several  churches  built  in 
other  tracts  which  are  in  great  want  of  Missionaries  particularly 
those  at  Kent,  Apoquinimink,  Bristol,  Parkiomen  and  Whitemarsh. 
How  is  the  Revenue  of  the  Churches  supplied  which  arises  during  the 
vacancies  ? 

Ans.  The  Church  has  no  Revenue  in  this  Colony ;  the  Clergy  subsist- 
ing entirely  on  the  Bounty  of  the  Hon'ble  Society. 


*37 


[1724. 


What  are  the  ordinary  prices  of  the  necessaries  of  life  there  ? 

Ans.  Meat  and  drink  bear  much  the  same  price  here  as  in  London, 
but  as  for  apparel  for  ourselves  &  Families  which  by  reason  of  our 
mean  circumstances  we  are  obliged  to  purchase  in  this  Country  at  a 
very  extravagant  rate  because  transported   from  England,  it   con- 
sumes the  greatest  part  of  our  Salaries. 
Can  you  suggest  any  thing  that  may  be  serviceable  to  Religion  and  con- 
duce to  the  ease  of  the  Clergy  and  their  more  comfortable  subsistence  which 
you  believe  to  be  fairly  practicable  and  which  will  no  way  interfere  with  the 
authority  of  the  Governor  nor  be  judged  an  infringement  of  the  rights  of  the 
people  ? 

Ans.  As  to  things  that  may  be  serviceable  to  religion  we  suggest  it  as 
highly  necessary  that  a  Bishop  or  Suffragan  be  sent  into  these  parts 
and  also  for  the  ease  and  better  support  of  the  Clergy  that  their 
Salaries  in  this  Government  may  be  augmented  by  the  Hon'ble 
Society ;  Our  Incomes  here  being  less,  and  all  European  Goods 
much  dearer,  than  in  any  other  Colony  in  the  Plantations. 

We  are, 

My  Lord, 
Your  Lordship's  most  obedient  most 
dutiful  sons  and  Servants, 
Geo.  Ross, 
John  Humphreys. 


Robt  Weyman, 
W  Bockett, 


Sir  WM  KEITH  to  the  LORD  BISHOP  of  LONDON. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  July  24,  1724. 
My  Lord, 

We  have  in  this  Government  12  or  13  more  little  edifices 
called  churches  or  chapels  which  the  people  by  voluntary  contribution  in  the 


1 724-]  138 

Neighborhood  have  erected  in  different  parts  of  the  country  for  their  own 
conveniency  and  most  of  them  are  at  times  supplied  by  one  or  other  of  the 
poor  Missionaries  sent  from  the  Society  to  New  Castle,  Chester,  Oxford  and 
Sussex,  whose  characters  for  life  and  conversation  and  a  diligent  application 
to  their  duty  is  I  believe  generally  approved  of  and  I  cannot  say  but  their 
behaviour  to  myself  and  the  Magistracy  has  been  all  along  very  decent  and 
respectful. 

It  seems  to  me  necessary  further  to  acquaint  your  Lordship  that  the  man- 
agement of  Christ  Church  in  Philadelphia  is  in  the  hands  of  a  Vestry  and  two 
Church-wardens  yearly  elected  and  chosen  by  the  people  and  being  they  have 
all  along  claimed  an  independency  of  the  Governor's  authority,  I  am  for  peace 
sake  obliged  to  be  passive  in  things  which  are  both  indecent  and  disorderly 
such  as  suffering  of  some  Clergymen  to  read  prayers  and  preach  without 
mentioning  the  King,  Prince  and  Royal  family  according  to  the  rubrick  so  that 
myself  and  family  with  such  others  as  are  of  unquestioned  Loyalty  to  his 
present  Majesty  are  deprived  the  benefit  of  going  to  Church  least  it  might 
give  encouragement  to  a  spirit  of  dissaffection.  Should  your  Lordship  there- 
fore be  pleased  to  cause  some  enquiry  to  be  made  in  this  matter  it  would 
probably  put  an  effectual  stop  to  what  in  time  may  become  more  pernicious 
for  it  is  confidently  reported  here  that  some  of  these  nonjuring  Clergymen 
pretend  to  the  authority  and  office  of  Bishops  in  the  Church  which  however 
they  do  not  own  and  I  believe  will  not  dare  to  practice  for  I  have  publicly 
declared  my  resolution  to  prosecute  with  effect  all  those  who  either  in  doctrine 
or  conversation  shall  attempt  to  debauch  any  of  the  people  with  schismatical 
disloyal  principles  of  that  nature.         *         *         * 

My  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's,  &c, 

W.  KEITH. 


139  [1725. 

M\  GLENTJFORTH  to  M'\  CUM  MINGS. 


Feby.  14,  1 72I. 
Sir, 

I  came  from  Philadelphia  the  4th  day  of  December,  at  which  time  Doctor 
Welton  officiated  in  the  Church  every  Sunday  once  at  least  but  generally  twice 
and  likewise  on  Wednesdays,  Fridays  and  Saturdays. 

The  order  to  recall  him  went  over  with  one  Captain  Richmond  who  sailed 
the  begining  of  Decr  and  can  hardly  be  arrived  there  by  this  time. 

I  am, 
Sir, 
Your  most  humble  Servant, 

THOs  GLENTWORTH. 


To   the  Right  Honble  and  Right    Reverend  Father   in    God, 
Edmund,  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  and  one  of  His   Ma- 
jesty's Most  Honorable   Privy  Council. 


The  Memorial  of  Peter  Evans  Humbly  Sheweth  : 

That  your  memorialist  did  himself  the  Honor  in  company  with  Mr.  Blew 
lately  to  wait  on  your  Lordship  &  has  abundant  reason  to  acknowledge  your 
Lordship's  kind  reception  &  favor  not  only  in  promising  your  assistance  to 
determine  a  matter  in  difference  between  Sir  Wm  Keith  Deputy  Govr  of  Penn- 
sylvania &  the  collector  of  His  Majesty's  customs  there ;  But  more  especially 
for  your  Lordship's  goodness  in  communicating  your  thoughts  concerning  the 
Church  &  Vestry  of  Philadelphia  of  which  Vestry  your  Lordship  had  received 
some  disagreeable  account.  Your  memorialist  as  one  (tho'  unworthy),  of  the 
members  of  the  said  Vestry  humbly  begs  leave  to  give  your  Lordship  a  true 
information  of  the  said  Vestry's  conduct  towards  Dr.  Welton,  who  at  his  arri- 
val there,  about  June,  1 724,  was  a  stranger  and  his  coming  altogether  unknown 


1725.]  140 

to  every  one  of  them.  The  circumstances  of  the  church  there  being  not  a 
little  melancholly  at  that  time  for  that  being  destitute  of  a  minister,  no  Divine 
service  had  been  performed  there  for  some  months  before  &  a  numerous  con- 
gregation which  if  kept  together  were  not  only  able  but  willing  to  raise  a 
handsome  support  for  a  missionary  wch  was  daily  expected  from  your  Lord- 
ship. 

But  the  Church  Doors  being  shut  it  was  evident  the  congregation  would 
soon  dwindle  &  be  captivated  among  the  many  Dissenting  Teachers  in  that 
growing  city  &  render  them  unable  to  perform  their  promises  to  your  Lord- 
ship. To  prevent  wch  inconvenience  several  members  of  the  Vestry  met  & 
being  well  assured  by  some  persons  of  the  Dr's  acquaintance  that  he  was 
an  Orthodox  minister  &  it  appearing  by  several  English  printed  News  Papers 
that  the  Dr.  had  then  lately  taken  the  oaths  &  conformed  to  the  Government, 
but  had  been  deprived  of  his  Living,  several  members  of  the  Vestry  asked 
the  Dr.  to  officiate  until  such  time  as  they  were  favoured  with  a  missionary 
from  your  Lordship  wch  he  readily  granted  and  the  church  Doors  were  opened 
&  for  that  reason  &  from  the  character  of  the  Dr's  preaching  the  congrega- 
tion resorted  to  hear  him. 

Your  memorialist  hopes  your  Lordship  will  be  induced  to  believe  their 
zeal  for  the  Church  (and  not  for  any  mistaken  principles  of  the  Dr- s),  was  the 
true  cause  of  their  frequenting  the  church.  Your  memorialist  from  his  knowl- 
edge of  &  acquaintance  with  the  people  there  for  22  years  past  does  believe 
it  a  piece  of  injustice  to  insinuate  them  as  disaffected  to  His  Majesty  for  your 
memorialist  well  knows  that  every  member  of  the  Vestry  &  all  others  of  the 
congregation  to  whom  it  was  tendered  have  conformed  to  the  Laws  &  given 
all  the  proofs  of  their  Loyalty  to  His  Majesty  that's  in  their  power. 

But  for  his  &  their  defence  against  the  information  of  Sir  Wm  Keith  your 
memorialist  begs  leave  (and  he  hopes  in  case  of  self  defence  &  preservation 
he  may  be  allowed),  to  observe  to  your  Lordship  that  Sir  Wm  Keith  has  not 
been  so  happy  in  his  conduct  or  sincere  in  his  relations,  as  to  acquire 
undoubted  credit,  as  appears  from  the  following  Paragraph  (taken  out  of  the 
Lords'  proceedings  against  him  for  being  concerned  in  the  Scottish  conspiracy 
ann°  1703),  Viz',  "It  is  declared  by  the  Lords  Spiritual  &  temporal  in  Parlia- 
ment assembled  that  Mr.  Wra  Keith  (upon  his  Examination  by  the  Lords 
appointed  to  examine  him  by  this  House),  hath  prevaricated  with  this  House 
&  by  his  behaviour  does  not  seem  an  object  worthy  of  her  majesty's  mercy." 


Hi  [i/25- 

Your  memorialist  humbly  begs  leave  to  observe  to  your  Lordship  in  vindi- 
cation of  himself  &  the  said  Vestry  that  the  said  Sir  Wm  has  for  some  years 
been  elected  a  member  of  the  said  Vestry  but  taking  upon  him  to  overrule 
them  &  entirely  depriving  them  of  the  freedom  justly  due  he  was  left  out  of 
the  Vestry  in  the  time  of  Mr.  Vicary  the  last  settled  missionary  amongst  us 
from  you  Lordship's  predecessors  which  was  about  3  years  ago  &  from  that 
time  seemed  displeased  with  the  Vestry  &  withdrew  his  subscription  from  Mr. 
Vicary  to  whom  the  Vestry  shewed  all  due  regard  ;  but  for  his  health  he  left 
Pennsylvania  &  came  for  England  where  about  two  years  ago,- he  dyed  &  his 
Family  which  he  left  behind  him  (which  are  now  in  England),  will  testify  the 
kind  usage  he  &  they  received  from  the  Vestry.  Especially  from  the  collec- 
tor, whose  character  is  so  well  known  to  many  persons  of  honor  &  reputation 
here  as  well  as  in  America  to  be  altogether  consistent  with  his  duty  to  his 
majesty.  Yet  Sir  William  has  in  a  particular  manner  traduced  it,  but  without 
the  least  colour  of  proof  save  his  bare  allegation  and  all  proceeding  from  the 
difference  between  him  and  the  Collector  about  the  said  seizure. 

Your  memorialist  also  begs  leave  to  take  notice  of  Mr.  Urmston's  informa- 
tion to  your  Lordship.  It  is  true  Mr.  Urmston  did  serve  the  church  at  Philada 
but  was  not  sent  from  your  Lordship  or  your  Predecrs.  But  the  misfortune 
that  drove  him  from  Carolina  &  other  places  still  attended  him  &  his  beha- 
viour became  such  at  Philadelphia  as  is  not  proper  to  be  mentioned  or  allowed 
in  any  sober  society  which  obliged  the  Vestry  to  dismiss  him  and  the  several 
persons  he  complains  were  before  him  unkindly  used  by  the  Vestry  were  of 
the  like  circumstances  &  character  and  for  those  reasons  removed  from  thence. 

But  your  memorialist  does  affirm  that  he  never  knew  any  unkindness  or 
ill  usage  shewed  to  or  complained  of  by  any  of  the  missionaries  sent  to  the 
church  at  Philadelphia  by  any  of  your  Lordship's  predecessors  and  he  begs 
leave  to  assure  your  Lordship  that  he  doubts  not  but  the  missy  whom  your 
Lordship  shall  please  to  send  to  that  Church  will  have  just  ground  to  convince 
your  Lordship  that  the  Vestry  and  congregation  of  that  church,  are  not  only 
true  &  loyal  Subjects  to  his  majesty,  but  are  sincere  well  wishers  &  hearty 
members  of  the  Church  of  England  as  by  Law  Established,  and  thereby  not 
only  express  their  duty  &  gratitude  to  your  Lordship  but  also  intitle  them  to 
your  Lordship's  favor  &  benediction. 

And  your  memorialist  hopes  &  humbly  begs  your  Lordship  will  please  to 
be  a  means  to  induce  his  majesty  to  renew  the  bounty  of  £50  per  annm  to  the 


1725.]  142 

Church  &  ^30  to  the  School  at  Philadelphia  which  were  allowed  by  &  ceased 
upon  the  demise  of  her  late  majesty  Queen  Anne  towards  defraying  the  neces- 
sary Fees  of  which  Grant  from  his  present  majesty,  Mr.  Moore,  the  said  Col- 
lector, has  several  years  since  disbursed  above. 

Your  memorialist  further  begs  leave  to  remind  your  Lordship  that  there  has 
been  raised  in  Pennsylvania  the  sum  of  ^2000,  that  money  which  is  equiva- 
lent to  ^1500  Sterling,  towards  carrying  on  the  expedition  against  Canada, 
but  the  Expedition  failing  before  the  said  money  was  paid  to  the  Crown's  use 
it  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer  of  that  Province  until  Sir  William 
(about  9  years  ago)  came  as  Deputy  Govr  there,  &  then  demanded  &  received 
the  same,  one  moiety  was  paid  him  in  money  &  the  other  he  took  Lands  for  in 
his  own  name  or  trustee  for  his  use  and  which  he  is  now  in  possession  of. 

The  church  of  Philadelphia  is  become  ruinous  and  must  shortly  be  rebuilt, 
which  without  considerable  help,  the  people  there  are  not  able  to  do.  There- 
fore your  memorialist  in  behalf  of  the  said  congregation,  most  humbly  begs 
your  Lordship's  intercession  for  the  vesting  of  the  said  money  &  Lands  in 
your  Lordship's  and  your  Successors  for  the  use  of  the  said  church,  which 
being  perfected  will  be  an  Everlasting  monument  of  your  Lordship's  care  & 
goodness  towards  that  distant  congregation  and  be  ever  acknowledged  by 
them  as  a  blessing  bestowed  on  them  by  your  Lordship, 

And  your  memorialist  as  in  duty  bound 

shall  ever  pray  for  your  Lordship's  long  life 

and  prosperity,  &c., 

PR  EVANS. 


M\  STUBS  to  the  LORD  BISHOP  of  LONDON. 

Westmer,  April  16,  1725. 
My  Lord, 

In  obedience  to  your  Lordship's  commands  just  now  laid  upon  me  in  the 
Cockpit,  I  dispatch  as  ordered  by  Sir  J.  Philips  two  paragraphs  of  a  letter 
just  came  to  hand,  signed  Jn  Urmston  &  dated  Cecil  County  in  Maryland  7 
29th,  1724. 


ber 


l43  [1725- 

P.S. — "  Mr.  Talbot  did  me  no  diskindness  in  causing  me  to  be  turned  out 
of  Philadelphia  to  make  room  for  himself.  He  convened  all  the  Clergy  to 
meet,  put  on  his  robes  &  demanded  Episcopal  obedience  from  them.  One 
wiser  than  the  rest  refused,  acquainted  the  Govr  with  the  ill  consequences 
thereof,  the  danger  he  would  run  of  losing  his  Govmt,  whereupon  the  Govr 
ordered  the  Church  to  be  shut  up." 

P.S. — "  He  is  succeeded  by  Dr.  Welton  who  makes  a  great  noise  amongst 
them  by  reason  of  his  sufferings.  He  has  brought  with  him  to  the  value  of 
^300  St :  in  Guns  &  fishing  tackle,  with  divers  printed  copies  of  his  famous 
Altar-piece  at  White  chapel ;  he  has  added  a  scroll  with  words  proceeding  out 
of  the  mouth  of  the  Bp.  of  Peterborough,  to  this  effect  as  I  am  told,  "  I  am 
not  he  that  betrayed  X1  tho'  as  ready  to  do  it  as  ever  Judas  was."  I  met  him 
since  in  the  streets,  but  had  no  further  conversation  with  him." 

Your  Lordship's 

most  dutiful 

PH.  STUBBS. 


Sir  WILLIAM  KEITH  to  the  Secretary. 


Philadelphia,  May  13th,  1725. 
Sir, 

The  notice  which  the  Society  do  me  the  Honor  to  give  by  your  Letter  of 
1 5th  Jany  concerning  Dr.  Welton's  character  shall  be  duly  regarded  by  using 
all  the  means  that  is  in  my  power  to  prevent  the  mischiefs  which  they  appre- 
hend from  the  Doctor's  residing  in  this  Government.  But  so  long  as  the 
Vestry  here  take  upon  them  to  be  wholly  independent  on  the  Governor's 
Authority,  and  that  Clergymen  may  be  indifferently  called  without  either  a 
lisence  from  the  Bishop  or  Induction  here.  I  hope  I  cannot  be  accountable 
for  irregularities  of  that  nature  untill  I  am  better  assisted  with  a  proper  author- 
ity, and  if  I  knew  where  to  make  application  without  giving  offence.  I  think  I 
have  some  reason  to  complain  that  the  Church  here  is  so  much  neglected  as 
that  the  Governor  and  those  who  are  truly  well  affected  to  our  Sovereign 
Lord  King  George  and  his  Royal  Family  cannot  decently  attend  the  publick 


I725-]  i44 

worship.  The  Bishop  of  London  very  well  knows  my  sentiments  on  this 
matter  and  I  must  entreat  that  you  will  be  pleased  to  assure  the  Society  that 
his  Majesty  has  not  a  servant  in  America  who  is  more  heartily  disposed  than 
I  am  to  Rectify  abuses  of  this  nature.     I  am  with  respect, 

Sir,  Your  most  Obd'  Humble  Serv1, 

W.  KEITH. 


M\    WETMAN   to   the    Secretary, 


Oxon,  Pensilvania,  July  26,  1725. 
Reverend  Sir, 

I  received  the  honor  of  yours  of  25  of  Aug1  last  and  am  sorry  that  the 
Society  are  not  yet  come  to  resolution  of  sending  a  missionary  to  Radnor 
where  the  people  have  great  need  of  one  to  be  always  residing  amongst  them 
that  can  converse  with  them  in  their  own  British  Dialect.  I  have  communi- 
cated the  contents  of  the  Letter  to  them  and  they  have  immediately  upon  the 
perusal  thereof  agreed,  and  committed  it  in  writing  in  an  instrument  obliga- 
tory under  their  hands  to  contribute  Yearly  ^40  in  proclamation  money 
towards  the  better  support  of  such  a  missionary  as  the  Honorable  Society 
shall  think  fit  to  send  them.  But  they  desire  he  may  be  well  acquainted  and 
obliged  to  preach  to  them  in  their  own  language  because  there  are  a  consider- 
able number  amongst  them  that  are  strangers  to  the  English.  I  should  have 
returned  the  Society's  thanks  to  Mrs.  Mellows,  but  she  is  lately  dead  and  gone 
to  receive  the  reward  of  her  well  doing.  I  must  farther  inform  you  that  that 
Gentlewoman  in  her  last  Will  and  Testament  gave  the  Church  an  Additional 
Legacy  of  ^5  to  her  former  Benefaction  of  Eighty,  both  which  sums  with  an 
Additional  of  so  much  more  from  the  people  have  been  laid  out  in  the  pur- 
chase of  63  Acres  of  Land,  with  House,  Orchard,  and  Improvements  for  the 
conveniency,  Use  and  habitation  of  a  minister,  and  I  am  now  in  the  actual  pos- 
session of  and  residence  upon  it,  and  have  taken  effectual  care  by  mean  con- 
veyances in  the  Law  to  secure  it  in  perpetuity  for  my  successors  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry.      Thus  far  our  People  have  preceeded  in  the  settlement  of  a 


H5  EI725- 

Minister  among  them,  and  there  is  a  congregation  at  Whitmarsh  about  10 
miles  distant  from  this  place  that  is  very  desirous  of  a  minister  and  have  for 
the  decency  and  conveniency  of  divine  Worship  erected  a  goodly  fabrick  in 
stone  for  that  end  and  have  addressed  the  Honorable  Society  that  they  will 
allow  me  to  extend  my  Administration  to  them  which  I  am  willing  to  do  if  it 
be  consistent  with  the  pleasure  of  the  Honorable  Society  to  whose  wisdom 
and  piety  I  refer  it,  and  am  with  the  deepest  regard  and  honor, 
Reverend  Sir, 

Your  most  humble  Serv', 

ROBT  WEYMAN. 


Churches  in  Pennsylvania^ — how  supplied  with  Ministers, 


Christ  Church,  in  Philadelphia,  supplied  by  Mr.  Cummings. 

Oxford,  Radnor,  Mr.  Whitmore. 

Parkeomen,  |  . 

ttt,  ■  i  r  JNever  supplied  by  the  Society. 

Chester,  )     By  Mr.  Humphreys,  who  removed  to  Maryland,  but 

Concord,  >-  hath  the  leave  of  the  Society  to  return   to    his 

Marcushook,  )  Cure  again. 

Newcastle,  1 

Whiteclay  Creek,  J 

Apoquiniminck — Mr.  Campbell,  lately  sent. 

Lewes  Town  and  ) 
two  more  churches  in  >    By  Mr  Becket. 
Sussex  County.  ) 

Bristol — Vacant  now ;  formerly  supplied  by  Mr.  Harrison. 

Kent  County — Vacant,  but  the  Society  have  resolved  to  send  a  missionary 
there  when  they  know  what  the  people  will  contribute. 

Governor  Gordon  proposes  the  churches  in  Pennsylvania  should 
be  supplied  thus : 
Christ  Church — by  Mr.  Cummings. 


1726.] 


146 


By  Mr.  Weyman :  those  places  being  not  above  10 
miles  distant,  whereas  Oxford  and  Radnor  are 
twenty. 

Distant  ten  miles  from  each  other :  to  have  a  minis- 
ter who  can  preach  in  Welch. 

As  now,  to  be  supplied  by  one  missionary,  by  Mr. 
Ross ;  no  notice  taken  of  the  Chapel  at  White 
Clay  Creek. 


Oxford 

and 

Whitemarsh. 

Radnor  and 

Parkeomen, 

Chester, 

Concord, 

Marcushook, 

Newcastle, 

Apoquiniminck — by  one  minister,  as  it  is. 

Lewes  Town  and  ) 
the  2  other  churches  V    By  Mr.  Becket,  as  now. 
in  Sussex  County.        ) 

Bristol — By  the  minister  of  Burlington  ;  the  Society  never  gave  their  mis- 
sionary there  any  directions  to  officiate  there. 

Kent  County — No  notice  taken  of  the  church  there  by  Governor  Gordon. 


Sir  WM  KEITH  to  the  LORD  BISHOP  of  LONDON. 


Philidelphia,  April  8th,  1726. 
My  Lord, 

I  am  to  acknowledge  the  great  honor  your  Lordship  was  pleased  to  do  me 
by  your  Letter  dated  last  June  which  I  received  some  time  ago,  and  am  glad 
that  by  your  Lordship's  great  care  I  can  now  answer  it  so  effectually  as  to 
acquaint  you  that  I  have  by  this  conveyance  returned  an  authentic  Certificate 
into  my  Lord  Townsend's  office,  of  Dr.  Welton's  having  been  duly  served 
with  his  majesty's  Writ  of  Privy  seal  commanding  him  upon  his  allegiance  to 
return  to  Great  Britain  forthwith.  In  pursuance  of  which  order  the  Doctor 
did  us  the  favor  about  4  weeks  ago  to  depart  for  Europe  by  the  way  of  Lis- 
bon, so  that  I  doubt  not  but  your  Lordship  will  now  more  easily  find  a  way  to 
supply  this   Church  with  a  suitable  Incumbent,  and  as  the  people's  hopes  are 


i47  [1726. 

generally  placed  on  your  Lordship's  pious  care  for  that  purpose,  I  am  fully 
persuaded  that  any  Gentleman  who  comes  over  recommended  by  your  Lord- 
ship will  be  handsomely  received.  I  particularly  observe  what  your  Lordship 
writes  concerning  the  usage  that  the  Clergy  have  formerly  met  with  in  this 
place,  and  being  apprehensive  that  some  things  have  been  misrepresented,  I 
believe  your  Lordship  will  expect  it  from  me  as  a  part  of  my  duty  to  inform 
you  as  near  as  I  can  of  the  exact  truth. 

The  late  Rector,  Mr.  John  Vicary,  who  was  sent  over  by  your  Lordship's 
predecessor  to  take  charge  of  its  Church,  was  certainly  a  very  ingenious 
preacher,  &  gave  a  general  satisfaction  to  the  people  in  the  Exercise  of  every 
part  of  his  sacred  office.  But  the  duty  being  large  and  his  natural  constitu- 
tion of  Body  being  very  weak  and  Consumptive,  a  certain  pevishness  of  tem- 
per mixed  with  a  good  deal  of  vanity  so  increased  upon  him,  that  in  a  short 
time  after  his  arrival  he  was  pleased  to  value  himself  accordingly  upon  the 
influence  he  had  amongst  the  people  to  turn  me  out  of  the  Vestry,  and  altho' 
at  that  time  he  appeared  anxious  of  all  opportunity  to  affront  me  as  he 
thought  both  in  and  out  of  the  pulpit,  yet  I  took  no  manner  of  notice  thereof 
but  punctually  went  to  church  every  Sunday  and  also  continued  my  equal 
contribution  every  6  months  towards  the  minister's  support,  and  it  is  an  unde- 
niable truth,  that  Mr.  Vicary's  Income  while  he  remained  here  never  amounted 
to  less  than  ,£300  pr  ann :  &  often  considerably  more.  But  the  Gentleman 
having  no  ceconomy  in  the  management  of  his  private  affairs,  and  being  very 
industrious  at  a  great  expence  to  keep  up  a  popularity  independent  of  the 
powers  of  Governm1.  He  at  last  became  miserably  involved  in  debt  which 
increased  his  bodily  distemper,  obliged  him  to  return  to  England,  and  I  verily 
believe  was  the  principal  occasion  of  his  death. 

Whosoever  therefore  would  endeavour  to  persuade  your  Lordship,  that 
Mr.  Vicary  was  meanly  supported,  or  ill  used  in  any  sort  by  his  Parishioners 
here,  are  either  themselves  misinformed,  or  they  have  not  been  at  true  pains 
to  enquire  into  the  truth  of  that  matter. 

Moreover  I  do  assure  your  Lordship  that  I  never  knew  any  place  in  all  my 
life,  where  a  minister  has  had  more  honor  and  respect  paid  to  him,  than  the 
people  are  generally  fond  to  express  here,  and  in  truth  that  was  the  Rock 
whereupon  Mr.  Vicary's  vanity  made  shipwreck,  whereas  to  a  man  of  true 
Judgment  and  discretion  such  an  affectionate  kind  disposition  in  the  people 
towards  their  minister  may  be  of  great  service  on  many  occasions,  for  preserv- 


1726.]  148 

ing  peace  in  the  Civil  Government  as  well  as  in  the  Church  which  in  my  hum- 
ble opinion  ought  to  go  hand  in  hand  together. 

I  will  not  encroach  further  at  this  time  on  your  Lordship's  patience  than  to 
assure  your  Lordship  that  I  shall  ever  punctually  &  cheerfully  obey  your  com- 
mands &  be  ready  on  all  occasions  to  prove  myself, 
My  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  most 

faithful  &  most  devoted 

humble  Servant, 

W.  KEITH. 


M\  CUM  MINGS  to  the  LORD  BISHOP  of  LONDON. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  Octr  19th  1726. 
My  Lord, 

I  have  been  here  so  short  a  time  that  all  the  account  I  can  give  of  the 
place  as  yet  is,  that  the  soil  and  clime  seem  to  be  better  and  more  regular 
than  the  temper  of  the  people,  however  I  have  been  very  well  received  by 
those  of  any  note,  and  am  in  a  particular  manner  obliged  to  Mr.  Moore  our 
Collector.  He  is  a  sober  and  pious  man,  and  has  all  along  endeavored  to  sup- 
port the  Church,  in  opposition  both  to  Welton's  and  the  principles  of  the 
Schismaticks,  and  Sectaries  which  are  indeed  here  very  numerous.  I  hope 
in  a  little  time  by  proper  and  moderate  methods  to  cancel  all  the  bad  impres- 
sions the  angry  Docter  had  given  of  his  successor.  Your  Lordship  will 
observe  by  his  favorable  Sermon  printed  here  in  what  a  scurrilous  manner  he 
falls  foul  upon  all  the  Clergy  of  the  present  establishment  charging  the  peo- 
ple as  they  tendered  their  Salvation  not  to  receive  but  reject  any  that  should 
be  sent  among  them,  he  is  now  in  Lisbon,  'tis  well  if  he  be'n't  got  into  the 
convent.  I  h'an't  seen  all  the  Clergy  of  this  province  as  yet,  but  have  heard 
a  good  Character  of  them  all.    I  have  been  importuned  by  numbers  of  people 


149  [1726. 

from  Burlington  and  by  some  of  this  province  to  write  to  your  Lordship  in 
favor  of  Docter  Talbot.  They  made  me  promise  to  mention  him  otherwise  I 
would  not  presume  to  do  it,  he  is  universally  beloved  even  by  the  Dissenters 
here  &  has  done  a  great  deal  of  good.  Welton  &  he  had  differed  and  broke 
off  correspondence  by  reason  of  the  rash  Chimerical  prospects  of  the  former 
long  before  the  Governm'  took  notice  of  them.  If  he  were  connived  at  & 
could  be  assisted  by  the  Society  (for  I  am  told  the  old  man's  circumstances 
are  very  mean),  he  promises  by  his  friends  to  be  peaceable  &  easy  and  to  do 
all  the  good  he  can  for  the  future.         *         *         * 


M\  GORDON  to  the  LORD  BISHOP  of  LONDON. 


Philadelphia,  19th  July,  1726. 
My  Lord, 

After  being  seven  weeks  at  sea  we  arrived  safe  here  when  we  met  with  a 
very  kind  &  respectful  reception.  By  what  I  can  learn  the  little  time  I  have 
been  here  I  take  the  people  to  be  very  well  affected  to  our  happy  establish- 
ment, &  I  shall  not  be  wanting  on  my  part  to  the  best  of  my  understanding  to 
cultivate  the  just  sense  they  seem  to  have  of  the  many  and  inestimable  Bless- 
ings they  &  we  all  enjoy  under  the  best  of  Kings. 

My  Lord,  the  state  of  the  church  here  as  I  am  informed  is  as  follows,  Our 
Congregation  in  this  City  consists  of  above  800  Communicants.  Our  Church 
is  but  small  altho'  there  has  been  two  Isles  added  to  it  since  it  was  first  built 
&  I  am  pretty  well  assured  were  it  rebuilt,  &  made  larger  the  number  of 
Communicants  would  very  much  encrease.  Mr.  Cummings  is  extreamly  wan- 
ted here  &  I  am  told  he  may  be  very  happy  in  this  place.  We  are  at  present 
but  indifferently  supplyed,  the  Gentleman  who  sometimes  preaches  here  having 
two  or  3  Churches  at  some  distance  from  one  another  under  his  care ;  his 
name  is  Mr.  Weyman  a  very  sober  good  man.  His  Majestie,  Prince,  Princess 
&  all  the  Royal  Family  are  prayed  for  here  by  name. 

My  Lord,  we   have   13  other  Churches  &  Chapels  in  this  Govmt  &  they 


1727.]  150 

are  supplyed  after  the  following  manner.  The  Churches  of  Radnor  &  Oxon 
by  Mr.  Weyman.  He  acquaints  me  that  he  has  applyed  to  have  the  charge 
of  the  Church  of  WhitemarsJi  instead  of  Radnor  that  being  but  10  miles  dis- 
tant &  this  other  20  from  Oxon.  Radnor  &  Parkeoman  being  only  10  miles 
distant  may  be  supplyed  by  some  minister  who  can  preach  in  Welch ;  The 
Churches  of  Chester,  Concord,  &  the  Chapel  of  Marcushook,  being  within  few 
miles  of  each  other,  may  be  supplyed  by  one  minister  but  have  none  at  present. 
The  Church  of  Newcastle  is  supplyed  by  a  very  sober  good  man  Mr.  Ross. 
That  of  Apoquiminy  of  100  Parishioners  or  thereabouts  &  but  20  miles  from 
Newcastle  has  no  minister:  The  Church  of  Lewestown  &  hvo  other  CJiurches 
or  Chapels  are  supplyed  by  Mr.  Becket,  a  man  of  a  sober  good  character 
likewise.  The  Church  of  Bristol  is  supplyed  by  the  minister  of  Burlington 
the  River  only  dividing  the  two  Towns.         *         *         * 

My  Lord,  yours,  &c.,  &c., 

P.  GORDON. 


M\  BECKET  to  the  LORD  BISHOP  of  LONDON. 


Pensylvania,  March  15th,  1727-8. 
.My  Lord, 

Tho'  I  have  not  the  happiness  of  being  known  to  your  Lordship  yet  as  I 
have  been  a  missionary  to  the  Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel,  &c,  in  Pen- 
sylvania near  7  years  &  have  made  some  observations  upon  the  state  of  affairs 
here  so  I  have  something  which  I  beg  leave  to  offer  to  your  Lordship's  consid- 
eration that  I  conceive  would  conduce  much  (if  it  could  be  effected),  to  the 
Interest  of  religion  here.  And  these  I  humbly  pray  may  be  accepted  as  my 
apology  for  giving  your  Lordship  this  present  trouble. 

Here  if  a  good  Tract  of  Land  lying  on  the  West  side  of  Delaware  Bay,  & 
between  the  two  provinces  of  Maryland  &  Pensylvania  commonly  called  the 
three  Lower  Counties  (or  Counties  of  New  Castel,  Kent,  and  Sussex  on  Del- 
aware) about  100  miles  in  length  &  in  some  places  20  miles  wide  which  as  yet 
has  probably  no  Proprietary  but  his  Majesty ;  tho'  Lord  Baltimore,  &  the  heirs 


151  [1727. 

of  Penn  the  Quaker,  are  both  now  contending  for  it  at  Law  in  England,  not 
so  much  because  either  has  a  good  title  to  it  as  because  both  desire  it,  &  it 
would  be  a  good  &  convenient  addition  to  either  of  their  provinces,  if  they 
could  make  their  right  appear.  But  it  is  generally  believed  by  many  persons 
of  the  best  Credit  &  capacities  here,  who,  are  most  acquainted  with  the  case 
that  the  land  does  yet  belong  to  the  Crown  ;  y*  the  claims  both  of  the  one  & 
the  other  are  weak  &  insufficient  &  y*  when  the  matter  is  fully  canvassed 
before  the  proper  judicature  in  England  it  will  be  determined  in  favor  of  his 
Majesty's  claim,  who  when  at  any  time  a  Commission  is  passed  to  a  Govr  of 
Pensylvania  &  of  the  three  Lower  Counties  on  Delaware  has  always  a  clause 
inserted  to  this  purpose  "Saving  to  our  self  our  rights  to  the  three  Lower 
Counties  on  Delaware."  Now  should  the  case  be  so  determined,  if  a  Grant 
for  this  Land  could  be  procured  to  the  Society  from  his  Majesty  as  a  good 
sum  of  money  might  be  raised  from  it,  not  only  at  first  but  annually,  So  it 
might  be  a  mean  to  enable  them  to  carry  on  more  effectually  the  good  work 
for  wch  they  were  incorporated.  I  am  informed  by  one  of  the  most  intel- 
ligent of  our  assembly  (as  the  Representatives  of  the  people  in  Legislation 
are  called),  that  there  are  about  200,000  Acres  of  Land  cleared  &  improved 
here,  some  of  the  settlers  having  Titles  from  James  late  Duke  of  York, 
some  from  Lord  Baltemore  &  others  from  Mr.  Penn  &  his  Heirs,  all  sup- 
posed to  be  void  in  Law  since  'tis  said  that  they  who  granted  these  Lands, 
had  no  Title  to  it  themselves.  The  Inhabitants  at  present  are  very  anx- 
ious about  their  Titles,  but  would  be  glad  to  be  settled  in  their  pos- 
sessions on  a  good  foundation  &  to  have  the  church  their  Landlord ;  I  mean 
the  majority  at  least  who  are  members  of  the  church  of  England.  Could 
such  a  Grant  be  procured,  here  money  might  be  raised  towards  supporting 
a  Suffragan  (much  wanted  in  America),  to  maintain  missionaries,  or  to  such 
uses  as  the  Society  should  judge  most  expedient. 

There  is  another  affair  which  I  also  beg  leave  to  lay  before  your  Lordship. 
Since  Major  Gordon's  arrival  here,  our  present  Govr  he  hath  granted  marriage 
licenses  promiscuously  to  be  lodged  with  us  &  the  Presbyterian  ministers,  a 
thing  never  done  before  in  this  Governmen1  except  only  in  the  last  year  of  Sr 
Wm  Keith  his  immediate  Predecessor  when  his  fortune  grew  precarious  &  he 
was  willing  by  any  means  to  raise  money ;  or  as  he  alleged  because  Dr.  Wel- 
ton  was  then  minister  at  Philadelphia,  to  whom  it  was  by  no  means  proper 
they  should  be  directed.     The  missionaries  here  did  at  our  last  convention 


1727-1  J52 

Sepr  20,  1727,  humbly  lay  this  grievance  before  our  Govr  but  he  refused  to 
redress  us  in  this  point  tho'  'tis  the  only  one  wherein  it  is  in  his  power  to 
favor  us.  If  your  Ldship  will  be  pleased  to  write  to  him  about  this  matter  it 
may  perhaps  bring  him  over  to  our  Interest  as  he  professes  himself  a  member 
of  our  church  ;  &  it  will  be  a  great  favor  done  to  the  missionaries. 

My  Lord,   I  humbly  beg  pardon  for  offering  you  this  Trouble,  &  your 
prayers  for  me  &  those  under  my  care.     I  remain,  &c., 

WM  BECKET, 

Missionary  at  Lewes. 


Inhabitants  of  Concord,  Chichester  and  Chester  in  Pennsylvania 

to  the  Society. 


April  5,  1727. 

The  Humble  Address  of  &c .  To  the  Honorable  Society  for  Propagating,  &*. 

Crave  Liberty  to  lay  before  your  Honors  the  unhappy  state  of  our 
Church  since  Mr.  Humphrey's  left  us  which  is  as  followeth  Viz:  In  the  year 
1724  the  said  Mr.  Humphreys  by  his  frequent  going  from  us  to  the  Jerseys 
to  Preach  without  letting  the  Congregation  have  any  knowledge  of  it  &  seve- 
ral of  the  members  having  10  or  12  miles  to  ride  were  wholly  disappointed 
and  he  continuing  in  those  measures  several  of  the  members  discoursed  him 
about  it  but  he  gave  no  other  answer  but  their  disappointment  was  not  his 
concern  so  much  but  that  he  must  &  would  look  after  his  own  Interest  which 
caused  some  to  withdraw  their  subscriptions  or  at  least  not  to  pay  them  with 
that  freedom  as  they  were  wont.  Then  in  the  year  1725  he  went  to  Balte- 
more  in  Maryland  &  from  thence  to  Annapolis  promising  when  he  left  us  to 
take  care  altho'  he  left  us  to  write  to  your  Honors  that  we  might  be  supplied 
and  in  hopes  that  he  would  have  done  so  we  waited  without  any  Clergyman's 
coming  amongst  us  till  Mr.  Talbot  &  Dr.  Welton  were  pleased  to  give  us  a 
Sermon  some  times  till  the  last  Fall  when  Mr.  Humphreys  gave  us  an  expec- 
tation that  if  we  would  raise  him  Forty  pounds  per  annm  he  would  return  to 
us  again,  but  the  Sum  was  so  great  that  we  were  not  able  to  do  it.     It  is  now 


153  [i727. 

near  two  years  since  he  left  us  &  no  Gentleman  but  the  two  above  mentioned 
ever  came  amongst  us  until  some  time  the  last  Summer  a  great  mortality 
reigned  amonest  us.  We  were  obliged  to  desire  the  Revd  Mr.  Hesselius  the 
Swedish  Minister  of  Christiana  who  out  of  his  pious  and  Christian  disposition 
came  to  Bury  our  dead  &  seeing  the  disconsolate  condition  of  our  church  & 
people  very  Christianly  offered  to  assist  us  once  a  month  at  our  churches 
which  he  continues  still  to  do  in  hopes  that  we  may  be  supplied  again.  Our 
condition  is  truly  miserable  &  deserving  your  Christian  compassion  and  to 
whom  can  we  apply  ourselves  but  to  that  Ven'ble  Corporation  whose  zeal  for 
propagation  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  have  preserved  so  many  in  these 
parts  from  falling  into  irreligion  &  prophaneness.  We  beseech  you  therefore 
in  the  Name  of  our  Lord  &  Gracious  Redeemer  &  for  the  sake  of  the  Gospel 
just  ready  to  die  among  us  to  make  us  partakers  of  that  courtesy  we  once 
enjoyed  by  sending  us  some  Revd  Clergyman  who  may  heal  all  those 
breaches  &  put  a  stop  to  our  becoming  a  prey  to  those  Sectaries  that  do 
abound  among  us,  for  whose  encouragement  we  can  raise  ,£30  per  annum 
which  shall  be  paid  quarterly.  The  Lord  in  mercy  look  upon  us  and  excite 
you  according  to  your  piety  to  have  a  compassionate  regard  of  our  case  and 
we  pray  the  great  God  to  prosper  all  your  pious  undertakings  to  promote  his 
Glory  and  the  Good  of  his  church  especially  in  this  destitute  place  of  the  pil- 
grimage of  your  dutiful  and 

Obedient  humble  Servants, 

RALPH  PILE, 

PHILIP  OTTEY  &  others. 


Members  of  Apoquiniminck  Church  to   Mr.  ROSS,  about 

M\   CAMPBELL. 


May  the  8th,  1727. 
Reverend  Gentlemen, 

We  the,  &c.,  Humbly  request  That  whereas  our  said  Church  was  for  some 
time  &  frequently  hath  been  destitute  of  a  Minister  through  divers  misfor- 


I727-]  :54 

tunes,  &c,  to  exercise  the  Ministerial  Function  &  administer  the  Blessed  Sac- 
raments of  our  Holy  Church  amongst  &  our  unwearied  applications  to  the 
Bishops  and  Society  at  last  being  taken  some  notice  of,  did  send  a  certain 
Alexander  Campbell  who  being  short  of  money  at  his  first  arrival  we  did  pay 
him  half  of  the  Sum  we  informed  the  Society  (according  to  their  request),  we 
could  pay  yearly  towards  the  support  of  a  Minister  and  the  said  Campbell  not 
many  days  after  having  received  the  same  behaved  himself  base  &  unseemly 
&  persisting  in  the  same  to  the  great  scandal  of  all  Religion,  notwithstanding 
our  private  admonitions  and  requests  of  him  to  the  contrary,  we  therefore 
humbly  pray  that  you  would  advise  &  assist  us  in  this  deplorable  condition  to 
apprize  &  inform  the  Hon'ble  Society  how  much  they  have  been  imposed  on 
by  the  said  Campbell's  seeming,  qualification.  The  many  crimes  we  allege  or 
most  of  them  we  shall  be  ready  to  prove  at  your  request  either  by  oath  or 
Deposition  as  follows,  Viz :  Debauchery  as  Drinking  to  excess  in  all  manner 
of  company,  Quarrelling  Drunk  or  Sober,  Fornication  and  adultery  or  great 
room  forsuspicion  of  them  with  Whites  &  Blacks  but  most  frequently  with  White 
Servants  &  Negro  Women  &  having  but  a  slender  regard  to  any  thing  that 
is  o-ood  by  his  Life  and  Conversation  &  proving  so  great  a  scandal  &  ridicule 
to  the  Holy  Religion  we  profess,  We  therefore  once  more  heartily  entreat  you 
that  you  would  with  all  convenient  speed  assist  and  join  with  us  in  acquaint- 
ing the  said  Society  of  the  scandalous  life  and  conversation  of  the  said  Alexr 
Campbell  as  well  as  interceeding  and  praying  them  not  to  leave  us  destitute 
of  such  a  Missionary  as  will  prove  a  true  Shepherd  to  Christ's  Flock  &  who 
will  heal  the  wounds  our  present  Teacher  has  made  in  our  church.  In  the 
doing  of  which,  Gentlemen,  you  will  not  only  do  a  singular  service  to  our 
declining  Congregation  but  infinitely  oblige 

Your  most  h'ble  Servants, 

ANDREW  PETERSON, 
JOHN  GOODING  &  others. 


i55  [1727. 

CLERGY  of  Pennsylvania  to  the  Societv. 


New  Castle,  Septr  21,  1727. 
May  it  please  the  Hon'ble  Society, 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Clergy  of  Pennsylvania  at  New  Castle  the  20th  of 
September  instant,  such  heavy  and  gross  things  have  been  laid  before  us 
against  Mr.  Alexander  Campbell,  Missionary  at  Apoquimininck,  and  those 
things  supported  and  made  out  by  a  very  considerable  number  of  his  chief 
Parishioners  that  we  find  ourselves  under  an  absolute  necessity  of  represent- 
ing the  said  Mr.  Campbell  to  your  Venerable  Board  as  a  person  in  his  con- 
duct very  indiscreet  as  well  as  heinously  scandalous  in  his  conversation. 

The  particulars  of  his  keeping  company  with  lewd  Women  are  too  many 
as  well  as  too  offensive  to  your  Ears,  to  be  repeated.  We  beg  for  the 
Church's  sake  and  that  the  Holy  Function  may  no  longer  be  traduced  on  his 
account  he  be  remov'd  from  his  present  station  and  another  sent  in  his  room 
to  whom  the  people  have  engaged  to  give  all  proper  encouragement. 

The  Revd  Mr.  Windruessea  a  Swedish  Missionary,  a  grave  sober  ingeni- 
ous young  man  and  pretty  well  acquainted  with  the  English  Tongue  is  willing 
to  serve  at  Apoquimininck.  The  Swedish  Congregations  being  well  supplied 
till  the  said  Parish  be  other  ways  provided  for,  we  humbly  conceive  his  officiat- 
ing there  by  the  appointing  of  and  with  proper  encouragement  from  the 
Ven'ble  Society  will  very  much  contribute  to  keep  the  Congregation  together 
who  have  been  scandalized  by  Mr.  Campbell's  immorality  and  withdrawn 
themselves  from  his  Ministry.  They  are  a  very  hearty  good  natured  people 
and  deserve  not  the  ill  character  and  bad  impressions  we  are  apprehensive 
may  be  given  of  them  from  another  quarter. 

Geo  r  Ross, 
Robt  Weyman, 
WM  Becket, 
John  Holbrooke, 
Samuel  Hesselius,  Archd  Cumming, 

Peter  Tranberg,  of  Philadelphia. 

Andrew  Windrussea, 

Swedish  Missionaries. 


I727-]  156 

AT.  CAMPBELL  to  the  SECRETARY. 


Apoquimininck,  Feb.  26,  172J. 
Sir, 

I  had  the  honor  of  writing  to  the  Venerable  Society  in  answer  to  theirs  of 
the  16th  of  June  last  which  I  hope  came  safe  to  your  hand,  also  another  Letter 
in  my  own  vindication  against  the  unjust  aspersions  cast  upon  me  and  a  re-, 
presentation  obtained  against  me  very  unaccountably  at  a  time  when  I  was  at 
the  point  of  death. 

I  am  now  at  Law  against  my  infamous  calumniators  and  now  they  have 
denyed  their  own  words  in  their  plea  and  yet  upon  these  words  which  now 
they  disown  my  Name  was  innocently  exposed  to  infamy.  When  a  man  is 
defamed  what  can  he  do  more  than  to  set  his  character  to  the  test  by  having 
recourse  to  the  Common  Law  since  the  Church  is  not  established  in  this  part 
of  the  world  ?  This  is  my  present  case  &  I  adjure  all  the  members  of  the 
Society  not  to  believe  any  thing  against  me  till  I  am  heard  for  myself  before 
equal  Judges  having  my  accusers  face  to  face.  Tho'  my  station  in  life  is  but 
low,  yet  as  my  reputation  has  been  hitherto  untouched  and  unblemished  I  am 
not  willing  that  every  mortal  should  attack  it  with  impunity  when  I  am  sensi- 
ble of  and  can  prove  my  innocency. 

You  have  inclosed  several  Papers  that  may  give  the  Society  a  better  idea 
of  me  than  any  representation  obtained  against  me  when  I  was  in  the 
extremity  of  sickness  and  the  most  exquisite  pain  and  misery  of  a  violent  tho' 
common  distemper. 

The  first  is  from  Mr.  Hugh  Matthews  who  cured  me  of  the  fever  and  ague. 
I  need  not  repeat  the  words  of  it  but  you'll  observe  that  my  Brethren  the  Mis- 
sionarys  acted  very  barbarously  and  unchristianly  in  condemning  and  repre- 
senting me  in  a  bad  Light  to  the  Society  without  allowing  me  that  common 
point  of  the  Law  of  Nature  and  the  privilege  of  every  British  Subject  Viz1,  to 
be  heard  in  my  own  defence  at  a  time  when  they  knew  it  was  morally  impossi- 
ble for  me  to  attend. 

The  second  is  a  Vindication  and  a  recommendatory  Letter  from  Gentle- 
men of  the  most  discernment  and  Note  in  this  and  the  adjoining  Government, 


!57  [1727. 

men  of  probity  and  good  sense,  whereas  my  adversaries  are  of  the  mobility, 
the  canaille  of  the  People.  I  hope  the  Society  will  distinguish  accordingly. 
That  these  Gentlemen  are  men  of  the  greatest  Note  is  attested  in  a  Letter  by 
our  worthy  Governor  to  the  Right  Reverend  Father  in  God  the  Bishop  of 
London.  It  is  matter  of  fact  and  therefore  the  generous  Col1  Gordon  has 
written  of  it  to  the  Bishop  who  will  testify  the  same  for  I  have  inclosed  the 
Governor's  Letter  in  one  of  mine  to  his  Lordship  of  this  date. 

The  third  is  a  paper  of  the  same  nature  with  the  former  subscribed  by 
some  of  my  Parishioners.  Some  of  my  bitterest  adversaries  have  recanted 
and  have  subscribed  it. 

The  fourth  is  from  the  Gentlemen  of  our  Communion  at  Chester  upon 
Delaware  for  I  have  now  supplied  that  Vacancy  often,  thrice  before  the  sub- 
scribing that  paper  and  twice  since. 

The  fifth  is  from  the  Protestant  Inhabitants  of  Kent  County  upon  Dela- 
ware. It  is  a  very  full  testimonial  and  I  am  sure  tis  true,  the  original  of  it 
is  to  be  sent  home  with  the  first  opportunity  when  there  is  one  meeting  more 
for  getting  their  subscriptions  ready.  I  have  done  more  for  the  supply- 
ing vacancies  this  last  year  than  perhaps  any  one  Missionary  in  America 
besides. 

The  last  Letter  is  from  two  Clergymen  in  Maryland,  Mr.  Henderson  who 
was  Commissary  to  the  former  Bishop  of  London  and  Mr.  Machonchie,  "  'Tis 
in  answer  to  a  very  true  and  exact  state  of  the  case  drawn  up  by  me  ;  I  hum- 
bly intreat  the  Society  that  they  would  agree  to  the  proposal  near  the  conclu- 
sion of  it,  to  let  me  have  a  fair  hearing  before  any  two  unprejudiced  Clergy- 
men, before  they  believe  any  of  these  malicious  Stories.  I  am  willing  these 
two  Gentlemen  should  be  the  Men,  or  any  other  two  unprejudiced  Clergy- 
men whom  the  Society  or  the  Bishop  of  London  will  appoint.  I  have  sent 
these  Papers  home  attested  to  be  true  Copies  by  our  Notary  Public,  Ralph 
Ashton.  I  would  have  sent  the  originals  but  they  are  absolutely  necessary 
for  me  at  the  ensuing  Trial  of  my  action  of  Defamation  before  the  Civil  Court 
in  May  next. 

Upon  the  whole  my  Brethren  have  acted  very  precipitantly  and  unjustly 
by  me.  The  polite  Greeks  and  Romans  tho'  Heathens  would  never  have  con- 
demned a  Man  without  being  heard.  If  these  Missionaries'  power  was  equal 
I  doubt  not  but  their  actions  would  resemble  that  execrable   Holy  Inquisition 


1727.]  158 

in   Spain.       May  God  preserve   the    British  Subjects    from  Tyranny  in  the 
State  and  an  Inquisition  in  the  Church. 

I  remain  the  Society's  and 

Your  most  humble  Servant, 

ALEXR  CAMPBELL. 
Feby  26,  172^. 

P.S.  I  intreat  the  Society  may  remove  me  to  another  Mission. 


M".   HENDERSON  &?  M\  MACHONCHIE  to 

M'\  CAMPBELL. 


Anapolis,  in  Maryland,  Novr  1,  1727. 
Reverend  Sir, 

We  received  yours  of  the  25th  ult°  wherein  you  desire  our  sentiments  of 
the  proceedings  of  some  of  the  Revd  Missionarys  met  at  New  Castle  against 
you,  which  we  think  we  cannot  well  avoid  from  the  Brotherly  duty  and  affec- 
tion which  ought  to  subsist  among  us. 

Your  case  as  you  state  it  is  reduceable  to  these  heads 

Ist.  That  there  was  a  report  spread  in  your  cure  of  Apoquimininck  that 
you  had  too  much  familiarity  with  Women.  To  which  we  answer  that  Reports 
of  that  nature  are  very  common  in  these  parts  of  the  world  where  people  give 
too  much  liberty  to  their  Tongue  to  blacken  the  characters  even  of  the  most 
Innocent.  What  ground  or  occasion  you  have  given  for  such  Reports  you 
yourself  best  know. 

2dly.  That  several  of  your  Parishioners  and  Vestry  were  uneasy  at  the 
above  Reports  for  which  we  can't  blame  them  if  they  had  any  grounds  to  be- 
lieve 'em  true. 

3dIy.  That  the  differences  between  you  and  your  Parishioners  that  arose 
upon  the  above  Reports  were  amicably  composed  at  a  full  Vestry  &  all  good 
offices  promised  on  both  sides  which  we  take  to  be  the  best  vindication  of  you 


159  [i?27- 

that  possibly  you  could  have  had  against  the  truth  of  the  above  reports  ;  for  if 
they  were  satisfied  we  know  not  whose  business  it  was  to  complain  or  to  in- 
termeddle in  the  affair. 

4thly.  That  notwithstanding  the  above  amicable  agreement  some  Rever- 
end Missionary's  summoned  you  to  appear  before  them  on  the  20th  of  Septem- 
ber last  at  New  Castle  to  answer  the  above  Reports  a  time  when  as  you  say 
you  were  so  far  from  being  able  to  ride  that  by  the  extremity  of  sickness  your 
life  was  despaired  of  whereof  you  gave  them  a  full  account  by  a  Letter  and 
that  they  without  any  regard  to  your  condition  proceeded  to  hear  Evidence 
not  upon  Oath  (one  whereof  was  a  Convict  and  another  your  incensed  Ene- 
my who  had  been  several  times  on  the  Grand  Jury  in  your  County  that  year 
&  endeavoured  in  vain  to  have  a  Bill  found  against  you  upon  the  above  Re- 
ports), but  upon  their  bare  say  so  determined  &  made  a  Representation  to 
the  Hon'ble  Society  that  you  was  a  person  unfit  for  that  place  and  thereupon 
required  you  to  quit  it,  that  in  case  you  would  comply  they  would  suppress 
their  representation,  otherwise  they  would  transmit  it. 

A  strange  transaction  !  and  as  strange  a  method  of  proceeding  indeed ! 
against  all  Laws  or  Rules  Divine  &  Human  which  condemn  no  Man  before 
he  is  heard,  which  requires  no  such  impossibilities  as  for  a  Man  at  the  point 
of  death  to  sustain  a  Trial  for  crimes.  That  impowers  no  person  to  take 
upon  them  such  an  absolute  jurisdiction  without  a  lawful  authority  but  even 
upon  presumption  of  a  lawful  authority  do  not  require  Judges  to  intermeddle 
in  affairs  of  controversy  where  the  parties  have  agreed  them  which  presume 
much  more  in  favor  of  a  person  acquitted  by  a  Jury  upon  Oath  than  upon  the 
bare  testimony  of  adversaries  qualified  as  (you  say)  some  of  yours  are.  That 
upon  supposition  of  guilt  will  not  allow  to  scare  a  Man  out  of  his  right,  sus- 
pending the  Sentence  if  he  tamely  quits  it,  but  rigorously  executing  it  if  he 
does  not.  In  short  as  Festus  said  in  the  case  of  Saint  Paul  it  is  not  the  man- 
ner of  the  Romans  to  deliver  any  Man  to  die  before  he  that  is  accused  have 
the  accusers  face  to  face  &  have  Licence  to  answer  for  himself  concernino-  the 
crime  laid  against  him.  And  the  crimes  laid  against  you  in  our  opinion  are 
more  insupportable  to  an  Innocent  person  than  death  itself  and  of  worse  con- 
sequence. 

5th17.  That  your  enemies  have  been  so  industrious  in  spreading  the  afore- 
said Reports  that  they  prevent  your  preferment  here  or  in  Virginia  and  that  a 
Gentleman  &  Representative  of  Somerset  County  in  this  Province  upon  hear- 


1727-]  i6o 

ing  those  reports  applied  to  our  Governor  not  to  induct  you  to  a  vacant 
parish  in  that  County. 

We  know  that  matter  of  fact  to  be  true  that  the  Gentleman  of  Somerset 
did  make  such  application  and  that  the  Governor  did  promise  him  that  he 
would  not  Induct  you  and  you  cannot  blame  that  Gentleman.  He  might 
think  that  the  Revd  Missionaries  would  not  condemn  you  for  such  reports 
without  proofs  ;  That  they  would  be  more  tender  of  the  Sacred  Function  than 
to  expose  it  and  Religion  with  it  to  Infamy  without  an  impartial  Trial  and 
clear  guilt ;  he  might  not  know  in  what  manner  they  proceeded  nor  the  char- 
acter of  some  of  the  evidences  nor  the  justification  of  your  Vestry  by  amicably 
agreeing  all  differences  ;  so  that  he  is  innocent  and  they  only  guilty  who  have 
so  industriously  spread  these  Reports  and  it  is  to  be  feared  you  '11  have  cold 
encouragement  any  where  till  you  get  the  force  of  these  reports  taken  off 
which  lead  us  to  the  last  head  of  your  Letter  Viz1,  you  do  not  doubt  but  upon 
a  fair  and  impartial  examination  you  will  acquit  yourself  of  all  these  allegations. 
We  are  very  glad  of  this  for  the  Honor  of  God,  our  Religion  and  Func- 
tion and  we  heartily  wish  you  (if  innocent),  good  success  in  it  and  we  think 
that  your  Brethren  ought  not  in  common  justice  to  send  a  representation  till 
you  have  a  fair  opportunity  of  making  your  defence.  If  they  should  we  ques- 
tion not  upon  your  application  to  the  Hon'ble  Society  they  will  in  Justice  & 
Honor  put  off  the  consideration  of  it  till  you  have  a  fair  and  impartial  Trial 
and  we  think  you  ought  to  propose  to  them  to  allow  you  such  a  Trial  before 
any  other  two  impartial  &  unprejudiced  Clergymen  before  they  proceed  to 
discharge  you  from  your  Mission.  This  is  so  reasonable  a  proposal  that  it  is 
not  to  be  thought  so  worthy  &  Venerable  Body  of  Men  as  that  Society  is  will 
ever  reject  it. 

Having  thus  given  you  our  thoughts  on  the  subject  matter  of  your  Letter 
We  are  Reverend  Sir, 

Your  most  affectionate  Brethren 

and  Humble  Servant 

JACOB  HENDERSON, 

Rector  of  S1  Barnabas  in 

Prince  George's  County. 
WIL.  MACHONCHIE, 

Rector  of  Port  tobacco,  Durham, 

in  Charles  County. 


161  [!728 

M\  BACKHOUSE  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Chester,  12th  Mar:   1728. 
Sir, 

I  find  that  many  are  gone  to  the  Quakers,  of  those  who 
professed  formerly  to  be  of  the  Church  of  England,  merely  for  the  want  of  a 
Missionary  among  them ;  And  also  some  for  want  of  the  aforesaid  advantage, 
and  opportunity  seems  now  to  have  lost  even  the  sense  of  all  Religion. 
Neither  do  they  join  with  any  Society  at  all ;  so  that  you  may  suppose  our 
Congregations  are  as  yet  but  very  thin  ;  Tho'  (I  thank  God),  they  are  might- 
ily Augmented  in  this  little  time,  I  have  been  here.  I  preach  two  Sundays  in 
the  month  at  Chester,  one  at  Marcus  Hook  and  one  at  Concord.  The  People 
of  Chester  and  Marcus  Hook  have  subscribed,  according  to  their  abilities,  and 
their  Subscriptions,  Amo'  to  Twenty  Pounds  a  Year,  or  some  small  matter 
above.  But  those  of  Concord  have  not  as  yet  Subscribed  any  thing.  The 
Youth  about  Chester  is  mightely  benighted — in  Ignorance.  They  are  quite 
Strangers  to  the  fundamentals  of  Religion  ;  many  of  which  can't  repeat  the 
Lord's  Prayer,  nor  the  Creed,  which  makes  the  burthen  Incumbent  upon  me, 
a  oreat  deal  heavier  than  otherwise  it  would  be.  'Tis  True  the  neg/lieence  Qf 
their  Parents  is  to  be  blamed.  But  tho  their  Parents  are  careless  in  instruct- 
ing their  children  themselves,  Yet  they  would  be  glad  if  they  had  a  Catechist 
or  School  Master  to  send  them  to,  and  I  understand  my  Venerable  Masters, 
have  formerly  been  pleased  to  give  a  small  salary  Yearly  to  the  encour- 
agement of  a  School  Master  at  Chester.  I  humbly  beg  they  wou'd  now 
grant  us  the  same  favor  which  if  they  will  be  pleased  to  do,  we  can  get  a 
master  which  will  not  only  assist  me  in  Instructing  and  Catechizing  the  Youth. 
But  also  be  of  unspeakable  Service  to  the  People.  I  have  been  once  back  in 
the  Country  seventy  miles,  at  one  part  of  Conastogoe,  near  the  Place  where 
Mr.  Weyman  used  to  go  to  ;  I  stayed  four  days  with  them  and  preach'd  twice. 
About  Thirty-six  miles  back  from  Chester  in  the  Road  to  Conastogoe  the 
Inhabitants  are  Building  a  Church  at  which  (at  their  request),  I  design  God 
willing,  to  preach  once  a  month.     But  I  shall  be  there  about  the  middle  of  the 


1728.]  I  62 

week  and  not  be  absent  from  the  other  Churches  under  my  care  on  the  Sun- 
day. I've  baptized  most  of  Thirty  Children  since  I  arrived  at  Chester,  and  by 
God's  Assistance  have  gained  to  the  Church  a  great  deal  of  Dissenters  from 
some  of  which  the  Presbyterian  Minister  has  hitherto  receiv'd  a  great  deal  of 
his  maintainance.  I've  nothing  more  at  present  to  acquaint  You  with,  making 
making  bold  to  subscribe  myself — Sir, 

Your  most  Obed1 

&  Humble  Servant, 

RICHD  BACKHOUSE. 


To  the  Honble  Society  for  Propogating  the    Gospel  in  Foreign 

Parts. 


London,  Aug'  3rd,  1728. 

The   Memorial  of  their    lately    arrivd    Missionary  from    Pensylvania    in 
America  : 

That  on  my  first  appearance  in  that  part  of  the  world,  on  a  mission  from 
this  Venerable  Board  to  Oxon  &  Radnor,  there  was  a  general  disposition  in 
the  People  of  that  Country  to  receive  the  Christian  Faith,  and  to  hear  the 
glad  tidings  of  Salvation  notwithstanding  the  prejudices  that  they  had  been 
brought  up  in  against  the  Church  of  England,  and  the  Preachers  of  her  Doc- 
trine by  their  several  Teachers  amongst  the  Dissenters  of  all  sects  &  sizes 
that  swarm  in  that  province,  and  use  a  great  deal  of  Industry  to  gain  Votaries 
to  their  several  Persuasions.  Of  all  the  sectaries  the  Quakers  are  the  most 
numerous  &  do  chiefly  prevail  by  making  a  considerable  figure  in,  and  having 
in  their  hands  a  great  ascendancy  over  the  helm  of  Government ;  which  was 
Originally  calculated  and  contriv'd  by  the  Proprietor  Wm  Penn,  not  so  much, 
as  I  take  it,  for  the  ease  of  consciences  that  were  or  are  truly  scrupulous,  and 
the  general  benefit  of  mankind  with  respect  to  the  undisturbed  freedom  and 
enjoyment  of  their  Civil  privileges  and  Religious  liberties,  as  for  the  laying  a 
foundation  for  the  furtherance  and  advancement  of  a  Particular  Interest  and 


163  [i728. 

Faction,  of  which  could  I  think  it  was  my  Duty  to  relate  it,  or  Your  Honble 
Body  would  allow  Yourselves  the  trouble  to  hear  it,  I  could  say  a  great  deal 
more  than  assuring  you  that  their  corrupt  tenets  are  like  the  Leprosie  of  a 
spreading  nature,  and  do  too  much  infect  the  Poor  People  far  &  near  through- 
out that  Colony ;  which  must  be  ascribed  Partly  to  those  false  colors  they  dis- 
ingeniously  paint  those  who  differ  with  them,  in,  and  the  worldly  advantages 
that  a  convert  of  theirs  is  especially  entitled  to ;  and  partly  to  the  great  want 
of  Orthodox  Ministers  to  Instruct  them  in  the  principles  of  the  Christian 
Religion  and  to  warn  them  against  the  errors  of  those  deceivers,  as  the  Honble 
Body  may  clearly  perceive  when  I  recount  to  you  the  great  inequality  that  is 
in  the  number  of  Episcopal  Ministers  in  this  Province,  and  the  crowd  of 
speakers  in  their  meetings  &  conventicles  in  every  part  and  corner  of  the 
Country  that  is  Inhabited  ;  who  make  it  their  business  to  run  from  House  to 
House  with  lies  to  delude  silly  people  and  to  take  them  Captive  at  their  wills. 
Should  I  tell  Your  Honble  Body  that  there  are  200  Speakers  or  Teachers 
amongst  them  in  the  compass  of  one  Year,  I  think  I  should  not  exceed  the 
limits  of  truth,  nor  offer  the  least  Violence  to  it,  and  should  I  assert  that  there 
was  no  more  than  3  Church  Ministers  when  I  came  into  the  Country,  and  just 
the  same  number  when  I  left  it,  I  persuade  myself  nobody  will  gain  say  it,  nor 
deny  but  that  the  Country  should  be  better  supplied  I  must  own  to  You  that 
the  paucity  of  Ministers  has  all  along  laid  me  under  a  necessity  of  extending 
my  labors  beyond  my  line,  &  of  travelling  from  place  to  place  to  keep  the 
People  stedfast  in  the  faith,  and  to  dispense  the  word  &  Sacraments  to  them. 
Even  as  far  as  Conestagoe  which  is  about  70  miles  from  the  place  of  my  hab- 
itation— and  to  Perquiominc  which  is  20  miles  &  to  White  Marsh  1 2  mile, 
and  to  the  great  Valley  which  is  30  mile  where  they  have  laid  the  Foundation 
of  a  Church  just  before  I  left  the  Country  and  is  about  8  mile  distant  from 
Radnor.  And  they  are  very  Inclinable  and  fond  to  embrace  the  Doctrine, 
Liturgy  &  Discipline  of  the  Church  of  England  which  gains  ground  every 
where,  and  in  ever}'  place,  where  the  Minister  of  our  Church  reside  and  offi- 
ciate particularly  at  Oxon  &  Radnor  the  state  of  which  Churches  I  am  to  give 
You  in  answer  to  Your  Queries  in  Your  last  letter  which  I  had  the  honor  to 
Receive. 

The  Church  of  Oxon  was  built  in  the  Year  1711  by  the  Contributions  of 
well  dispos'd  People  out  of  that  Town  and  Country.  The  materials  of  it  are 
Brick,  Lime  &  Sand  and  it  is  36  foot  in  length  &  26  in  Breadth  &  16  to  the 
Square. 


1728.]  1 64 

It  is  only  endowed  with  60  Acres  of  Glebe  Land  &  House  that  was  pur- 
chased by  the  Donation  of  Mrs.  Mallows  and  the  benevolence  of  the  People 
for  my  use  and  my  successors  for  ever. 

1 st.  The  Church  of  Radnor  was  likewise  built  by  the  Contributions  of  well 
disposed  People  in  the  Year  171 5  and  the  materials  of  it  are  stone,  &c,  and 
it  is  40  foot  long  27  foot  broad  &  18  to  the  square  ;  it  has  no  endowment 
that  I  know  of. 

2nd.  The  Number  of  Inhabitants  originally  belonging  to  and  frequenting 
these  Churches  at  first  was  small,  as  was  their  general  Condition  low  in  the 
World.  Their  Employment  was  chiefly  Agriculture  and  handy  Craft  Employ- 
ments. Their  sentiments  in  matters  of  Religion  were  very  wild  &  absurd  for 
the  most  part  &  their  manner  of  living  is  to  this  day,  Plowing  the  ground  and 
following  the  business  of  their  farms,  Plantations  and  trades ;  they  are  dis- 
persed over  a  large  Compass  of  ground,  and  live  not  together  as  our  Towns 
in  England  but  scattered  &  remote,  and  at  a  great  distance  from  any  other 
Church  ;  Even  at  the  distance  of  9  Mile  from  Philadelphia  at  Oxon  &  at  Rad- 
nor 16  which  is  the  nearest  Place  of  Worship,  and  not  easy  to  travel  to, 
especially  in  Winter  in  Extreme  Cold,  nor  in  Summer  in  excessive  heat. 

The  Number  of  Inhabitants  in  the  Township  of  Oxon,  are  accordingly  to 
the  best  &  nearest  computation  that  I  can  make  about  60  families,  and  in 
Radnor  about  the  same  number.  In  their  fortunes  they  are  much  the  same  as 
they  are  in  their  conditions  indifferent  and  mean. 

3rd.  There  is  one  meeting  House  that  is  frequented  by  Quakers,  and 
another  by  Anabaptists  in  my  Parish  at  Oxon,  and  at  Radnor  there  is  one 
Quaker  Meeting  House  and  a  Considerable  number  of  Dissenters  from  the 
Church  of  England  in  both  Parishes.  They  are  not  stinted  to  an  Individual 
or  any  Certain  Number  of  Teachers  who  are  supported  liberally  out  of  the 
Public  Fund,  as  Common  Fame  says. 

4th.  There  are  two  Schools  in  my  Parish.  One  in  Frankford  a  small  & 
Compact  Village  in  the  Township  of  Oxon  about  3  miles  distance  from  the 
Church;  In  which  Village  I  have  lately  Introduced  a  Lecture  in  the  Afternoon 
to  a  Numerous  Auditory.  The  House  of  our  Meeting  is  kept  by  Mr.  Walton, 
Schoolmaster,  A  man  of  Sober  life  &  Conversation  and  of  good  abilities  for 
that  employment  and  the  other  School  is  kept  by  a  stranger  near  the  Church; 
the  former  has  about  40  Scholars  and  the  latter  about  20 : — at  Radnor  none. 

5th.  Besides  what  I  have  already  mentioned,  no  donation  has  been  made  to 


1 65  [1728. 

the  Church,  neither  have  any  benefactions  been  made  either  to  me  or  the 
Schoolmasters ;  neither  is  there  any  Library  belongs  to  my  Parish  besides 
what  was  sent  by  Your  HonbIe  Body,  of  which  many  of  them  were  lost  before 
my  arrival  as  I  perceive  by  the  Catalogue. 

6th.  It  is  not  easy  to  enumerate  Xegro  Slaves  in  this  Country,  consider- 
ing their  distance  and  the  remoteness  of  their  Situation.  Neither  is  there  any 
due  care  taken  hitherto  for  their  Instruction  ;  and  I  have  often  pressed  the 
necessity  &  duly-  of  it  upon  their  masters  and  ofter'd  my  Service  to  instruct 
them  in  the  principles  of  the  Christian  Religion  :  and  to  prepare  them  for 
Baptism,  and  could  never  prevail  but  with  one  Family  at  Oxon  and  another  at 
Radnor  to  bring  them  to  Church. 

By  what  I  have  said  above  the  Honble  Body  will  soon  form  right  Ideas  of 
the  State  of  Religion  as  well  in  this  Province  in  General  as  under  my  Care  in 
Particular,  and  clearly  discover  the  disadvantages  &  difficulties  the  Clergy  and 
Members  of  the  Church  of  England  labor  under  ;  how  small  our  Incomes  are 
and  how  great  our  fatigues,  how  arduous  our  labors,  how  mean  our  rewards. 
Wherefore  I  humbly  desire  leave  to  beg  Your  Augmentation  of  my  allowance 
so  as  I  maybe  enabled  to  receive  a  Comfortable  Subsistance.  that  my  numerous 
family  may  be  Comfortably  supported,  and  the  blessed  Work  that  I  am 
engaged  in  may  be  carried  on  with  alacrity  Yigour  &  Success  to  which  noth- 
ing can  more  contribute  than  a  suitable  stipend,  which  I  leave  to  Your  HonbIe 
Body  to  consider  of  and  to  make  in  the  way  and  manner  that  is  most  consist- 
ent with  Your  Piety  and  wisdom,  which  I  shall  always  submit  to  as,  I  am, 

Your  Most  Obedc  Missionary 
&  very  humble  Servant, 

ROBT  WEYMAX. 


1729-]  1 66 

M\  H AC  RETT  to  the  SECRETARY. 


Newcastle,  2nd  October,  1729. 
Revu  Doctor, 

This  will  signify  to  the  Society  that  I  entered  upon  my  cure  of  Apoquini- 
mink  the  first  Sunday  in  May  last.  The  Parishioners  received  me  with  a  great 
deal  of  satisfaction  &  gave  thanks  for  the  Society's  letter,  and  expressed  their 
gratitude  to  that  honorable  body  for  their  unexpected  kindness.  For  upon 
my  arrival  at  Philadelphia,  I  was  credibly  informed  which  I  found  afterwards 
true,  that  a  multitude  of  law  processes  raised  against  them  by  Mr.  Campbell 
had  inflamed  them  and  the  neighbouring  parishes  with  a  great  deal  of  fire 
against  the  Church  ministers  in  general.  However  since  his  removal  the  same 
has  gone  out  and  extinguished  of  itself,  and  that  prospect  of  unsuccessfulness 
which  I  first  had  is  happily  turned  into  a  general  pacification  and  fair  appear- 
ances of  a  successful  mission.  I  have  not  as  yet  by  reason  of  my  health  been 
capable  to  draw  out  the  number  of  Churchmen  in  the  Parish,  but  at  the  sacra- 
ment of  the  Supper  which  I  administer  once  a  month  I  have  between  24  and 
16  communicants.  I  also  catechize  their  children  which  are  very  numerous 
considering  their  remoteness  from  the  Church,  seeing  sometimes  they  are  to 
the  number  of  30  who  attend  the  examination.  The  Parish  as  yet  have  settled 
no  glebe  nor  house  for  their  Minister  but  that  in  time. 

This,  with  my  dutiful  respects  to  my  honourable  Patrons,  and  I  am, 

Revd  Dr., 

Your  most  humble  and  most  obligd 

WALR  HACKET. 


167  [1730. 

M\    BACKHOUSE    to    the    Secretary. 


Chester,  Pennsylvania,  May  14,  1730. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  take  this  opportunity  to  acquaint  you  with  the  state  of  the  churches  under 
my  care  which,  God  be  praised,  are  in  a  very  flourishing  condition.  Besides 
Infants  I've  lately  baptized  many  adult  persons  as  also  the  numbers  of  Commu- 
nicants in  my  churches  are  augmented.  As  for  myself  I've  been  very  much 
afflicted  with  sickness  which  I  thought  was  brought  upon  me  chiefly  through 
the  multiplicity  of  business,  my  congregations  lying  so  wide,  some  part  or 
other  of  which  I'm  almost  always  under  a  necessity  to  visit,  which  is  the  great- 
est fatigue  in  life  besides  being  even  compelled  by  the  frequent  and  earnest 
solicitations  of  a  people  towards  Conostogoe.  I  Preach  forty  miles  back  one 
Tuesday  in  every  4  weeks  where  I've  really  a  large  congregation,  &  above  40 
communicants.  Last  summer  we  had  so  great  an  importation  of  people  from 
Ireland  that  eight  or  Ten  thousand  souls  were  said  to  land  in  this  Province, 
some  thousands  of  which  are  settled  back  in  and  about  Conostogoe  which 
makes  that  congregation  to  whom  I  preach  there  very  numerous  ;  so  that  in 
this  Province  the  harvest  truly  is  great  but  the  labourers  few.  I  can't  tell  you 
but  with  grief  and  anxiety  of  mind  that  (notwithstanding  the  Quakers'  liberal 
indulgencies),  we  live  in  a  Government  which  is  a  step  mother  to  our  Church, 
who  can't  rest  contented  only  with  taking  away  our  properties  and  perquisites 
and  giving  them  to  others,  But  now  has  struck  even  at  constitution  itself  by 
making  an  Act  which  not  only  prohibits  us  to  publish  but  to  marry  lawfully 
according  to  the  constitution  of  the  Church  of  England  without  the  license  of 
Parents,  Guardians,  Tutors,  Masters,  &c.,  first  had  and  obtained  in  writing 
under  hand  upon  the  penalty  of  ^50.     *     *     * 

And  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

RICHARD  BACKHOUSE. 


1730.]  1 68 

M\   ROWLAND  JONES  to  the   Secretary. 


Chester  in  Pennsylvania,  June  17,  1730. 

Worthy  &  Revd  Dr.  David  Humphreys  : 

Sir, 

I  crave  leave  with  humble  submission  to  lay  before  you  part  of  my  misfor- 
tune in  missing  a  salary  or  some  allowance  from  the  Royal  Society  for  an 
encouragement  to  keep  school  at  Radnor  in  Pennsylvania.  Sir,  after  my 
application  was  made  to  the  Royal  Society  I  did  expect  some  account  of  it  for 
a  while  but  seeing  none  coming  I  suspected  my  application  was  rejected. 
Some  of  my  employers  moving  further  into  the  woods  and  some  poor  so  that 
I  could  see  no  likelihood  of  getting  a  competent  maintenance  in  that  place, 
therefore  after  a  considerable  expectation  of  some  answer  I  moved  off  and 
went  to  Long  Island  where  I  had  been  employed  before ;  and  some  while  I 
kept  in  New  England  but  grew  weary  of  those  parts  and  so  moved  towards 
Pennsylvania.  When  1  came  there  I  understood  that  Mr.  Weyman  had 
received  a  Letter  for  me  from  the  Secretary.  I  spoke  to  him  and  desired  to 
have  the  letter  to  peruse ;  after  a  while  he  sent  it  me ;  he  blamed  me  very 
much  for  leaving  that  place  tho'  the  people  as  above  were  not  able  to  hire  me. 
Tho'  I  kept  correspond06  by  writing  with  some  of  Mr.  Weyman's  Associates 
yet  when  I  returned  at  seven  years  end  he  pretended  he  knew  not  where  to 
send  to  me,  though  I  received  Letters  from  others  from  the  same  parts  and  of 
his  acquaintance  too.  When  I  got  the  letter  I  perceived  it  was  dated  in  June 
the  22,  1722,  and  the  time  that  I  left  Radnor  was  the  25th  of  October  follow- 
ing, viz1,  in  1722,  and  it  is  not  very  common  that  a  ship  is  so  long  going  or 
coming  that  voyage  and  when  I  had  the  letter  from  him  it  was  towards  the 
latter  end  of  September,  1729,  and  presently  after  I  was  taken  sick  and  con- 
tinued ill  for  some  months.  The  which  disabled  me  last  fall  and  kept  me 
from  preparing  and  getting  ready  my  testimonials  to  send  with  the  rest  of 
these  accounts  the  which  I  hope  will  give  satisfaction  to  the  well  considerated 
and  charitable  members  of  the  Royal  Society  but  when  I  got  a  little  recovered 
I  got  into  a  mean  business,  and  without  some  good  people's  assistance  I  could 


1 69  [1730. 

not  have  lived  upon  it.  There's  Chester  tho'  it  be  the  County  Town  can  make 
but  small  business  unless  they  had  some  allowance  and  they  want  it  as  well  as 
Radnor  or  Concord  or  other  places  which  are  as  numerous  of  Church  people 
as  either  of  those  especially  Whiteland  where  they  are  designed  to  build  a 
church.  The  crround  is  marked  out  for  the  length  and  breadth  likewise  a 
church  yard  where  a  great  many  church  people  has  been  buried  already  and 
well  walled  in  with  stones.  The  County  is  not  divided  into  Parishes  as  yet 
but  only  into  small  Townships,  and  Radnor  Township  has  as  few  people  in  it 
as  any,  but  the  Congregation  of  the  Church  depends  on  other  Townships 
more  than  upon  Radnor  and  so  it  is  concerning  the  school,  some  of  one  Town- 
ship some  of  another,  so  if  any  allowance  should  be  granted  towards  the  poor 
church  children  the  neighbouring  places  should  be  mentioned,  for  Radnor 
Township  has  very  few  church  people  in  it,  but  East  Town  and  Newtown  and 
others  adjacent  thereunto  has  more  belonging  to  the  Church  than  Radnor 
and  indeed  the  Church  itself  does  not  stand  in  Radnor  Township  but  in  New- 
town, only  as  I  heard  say  by  some  they  design  to  have  it  Radnor  Parish  when 
the  County  is  divided  so.  Sir,  now  I  send  my  testimonial  with  some  other 
accounts  the  which  I  hope  will  affront  no  body  and  I  hope  it  is  not  too  late  for 
good  people  to  do  good  at  any  time.  Sir,  as  concerning  the  number  of  the 
poor  children  in  those  adjacent  places  they  are  great  many  more  now  than 
what  was  formerly  by  reason  of  abundance  of  both  Welch  and  Irish  Families 
are  come  in  of  late  especially  in  these  2  or  3  last  years,  and  abundance  of 
them  very  poor,  therefore  I  know  not  what  number  may  probably  be  but 
great  many  to  be  sure  if  any  encouragement  should  be  allowed.  Sir,  you 
required  an  account  of  my  method  of  Instruction  in  school.  I  endeavour  (for 
beginners),  to  get  Primmers  well  furnished  with  sylables,  viz1,  from  one  to  2, 
3,  4,  5,  6,  7  or  8.  I  take  them  several  times  over  them  till  they  are  perfect  by 
way  of  repeating  according  as  I  find  occasion  and  then  to  some  place  forward 
according  to  their  capacity  and  commonly  every  two  or  three  leaves),  I  make 
them  repeat  perhaps  2  or  3  times  over,  and  when  they  get  the  Primer  pretty 
well  I  serve  them  so  in  the  Psalter  and  we  have  some  Psalters  with  the  proverbs 
in  at  the  latter  end.  I  give  them  that  to  learn  the  which  I  take  to  be  very 
agreeable  and  still  follow  repititions  till  I  find  they  are  masters  of  such  places. 
Then  I  move  them,  into  such  places  as  I  judge  they  are  fit  for  either  in  the  new 
or  old  Testament  and  as  I  find  they  advance  I  move  them  not  regarding  the 
beginning  nor  ending  of   the  Bible  but  moving  them  where  I  think  they  may 


1730.]  170 

have  benefit  by.  So  making  of  them  perfect  in  their  vowels,  consonants  and 
dipthongs,  and  when  they  go  on  their  reading  clean  without  any  noising,  sing- 
ing or  stumbling,  with  deliberate  way,  then  I  set  them  to  begin  the  Bible  in 
order  to  go  throughout.  And  when  I  begin  writers  I  follow  them  in  the  let- 
ters till  they  come  to  cut  pretty  clean  letters  and  then  to  one  syllable  and  so 
to  2,  3,  4  and  to  the  longest  words  and  when  they  join  handsomely  I  give  them 
some  sweet  pleasing  verses,  some  perhaps  on  their  business,  some  on  behav- 
iour, some  on  their  duty  to  Parents,  &c. ;  of  such  I  seldom  want  them  at  com- 
mand and  when  they  come  to  manage  double  copies  readily  I  give  them  some 
delightful  sentences  or  Proverbs  or  some  places  in  the  Psalms  or  any  part  of 
the  Bible  as  they  are  of  forwardness  and  also  to  other  fancies  that  may  be  for 
their  benefit.  And  when  I  set  them  to  cyphering  I  keep  them  to  my  old  fancy 
of  repeating  and  shall  go  over  every  Rule  till  they  are  in  a  case  to  move  for- 
ward and  so  on.  And  I  find  no  way  that  goes  beyond  that  way  of  repeating 
both  in  spelling,  reading,  writing  and  cyphering,  and  several  Gentlemen,  viz1, 
ministers  and  others,  has  commended  it  and  some  schoolmasters  take  to  it 
and  tho'  I  speak  it  I  have  met  with  no  children  of  the  standing  or  time  of  mine 
could  come  up  with  them  on  all  accounts  or  hardly  upon  any;  I  also  give 
them  tasks  (when  able)  to  learn  out  of  Books  according  to  theirability,  but 
one  Girl  exceeded  all.  She  had  great  many  parts  in  the  Bible  by  heart  and 
had  the  whole  Book  of  Sl  John  and  hardly  would  miss  a  word.  I  put  them 
to  spell  twice  *$  week  and  likewise  to  catechism  and  likewise  I  catechise  every 
Saturday  and  often  on  Thursdays.  Some  times  I  set  them  to  sing  Psalms 
also  other  exercises  I  put  them  to  ;  I  also  had  some  Quaker  children  on  Long 
Island  and  some  Presbyterians  in  New  England.  I  asked  some  of  the 
Quakers  what  exercise  they  would  allow  their  children  to  learn  beside  spell- 
ing, reading  and  writing.  Some  gave  me  liberty  to  teach  their  children  the 
Lord's  prayer,  the  creed  and  the  ten  commandments.  Those  and  some  others 
got  the  Church  Catechism  by  heart  as  well  as  the  Church  people's  children. 
Some  of  the  Parents  when  they  understood  it  they  sent  for  me  and  were  much 
offended.  However  I  asked  them  to  hear  the  children  rehearse  it,  all  the 
Parents  being  in  place  which  gave  the  above  liberty  with  a  design  to  take  their 
children  from  my  school.  So  the  children  were  called.  I  began  with  my  bold 
boy  and  the  rest  followed  and  after  few  words  at  first  went  as  far  as  the  Sac- 
raments the  which  I  knew  they  would  hear  nothing  of  that  but  as  for  the  rest 
they  said  that  they  never  heard  a  better  thing  and  told  me  to  keep  them  to  it; 


171  [1730. 

it  was  on  Long  Island.  Several  of  them  are  grown  up,  and  are  firm  in 
Church  and  some  of  their  parents  also.  Some  of  the  Presbyterians  turned  to 
the  Church  both  Parents  and  children  tho'  they  for  the  generality  make  use  of 
the  Assembly's  Catechism.  Sir,  I  have  done  according  to  my  ability  as  much 
for  the  poor  as  any  in  these  parts,  also  in  setting  forward  towards  the  worship 
in  the  Church  which  I  hope  will  prosper  and  flourish  tho'  I  am  but  a  weak 
limb  and  can  do  but  little,  and  desiring  the  Lord  that  he  may  bless  it,  prosper 
it  and  preserve  it  for  ever.     Amen. 

Revd  Sir — I  humbly  beg  pardon  for  being  so  troublesome.  Before  I  made 
application  to  the  Royal  Society,  I  desired  some  directions  of  Mr.  Robert 
Weyman  and  he  excused  himself  and  said  he  being  not  long  employed  was 
loth  to  trouble  the  Society  about  it,  but  since  I  returned  I  understood  that  he 
was  offended  because  I  did  not  shew  him  what  I  writ  and  to  who,  seeing  my 
application  was  taken  notice  of.  Then  he  wanted  to  have  a  finger  in  it  to  get 
a  name  that  it  was  thro'  him  it  was  ordered.  He  living  at  a  considerable  dis- 
tance, viz',  near  30  miles  off  and  indeed  his  coming  to  Radnor  was  very  uncer- 
tain as  it  is  still  so  I  might  have  lost  opportunity  to  send.  I  commonly  go  to 
hear  Mr.  Backhouse  tho'  a  great  way  off  and  he  is  a  Gentleman  worth  the 
hearing  and  very  diligent,  not  disappointing  of  the  Congregations  whatever 
the  weather  be  and  is  so  beloved  that  all  other  sects  in  the  Country  who 
knows  him  bears  respect  to  him,  and  indeed  his  conversation  and  his  meek, 
decent  and  familiar  behaviour  makes  all  people  respect  him  and  he  is  a  very 
deserving  Gentleman  in  all  parts. 

Revd  Sir — I  crave  your  patience  for  a  few  lines  more,  viz4,  in  case  the 
Society  would  be  pleased  to  grant  me  any  allowance  or  salary  I  would  desire 
(whatever  you  write  or  send  to  me),  that  it  may  be  directed  to  come  to  Mr. 
Richard  Backhouse  in  Chester  or  to  Mr.  Henry  Pierce  at  Concord  in  Chester 
County,  Pennsylvania.  Also  if  I  am  rejected  I  desire  that  your  deputy  may 
send  me  two  lines  to  be  left  as  above,  but  if  I  am  accepted  of  we  shall  want 
small  Books  of  Catechism  both  Welch  and  English  and  if  you  will  send  any 
other  Books  to  be  distributed  I  shall  observe  your  orders  therein  which  is  all 
at  present  from 

The  humblest  of  your  Servants,  &c, 

ROWLAND  JONES. 

These  are  to  certify  that  Rowland  Jones,  Schoolmaster,  is  a  man   that 


173©.]  172 

attends  the  worship  of  the  Church  some  times  at  Chester  &  some  times  at 
Concord.  He  also  partakes  of  the  Communion  of  the  Lord's  Table ;  and  we 
never  knew  nor  heard  but  that  he  was  truly  affected  both  to  Church  and  Gov- 
ernment. 

RICHARD  BACKHOUSE, 


Churchwardens  for  Chester,    < 


his 

ALEXR  X  HUNTER, 

mark 

JOHN  MATHER. 


M\  BACKHOUSE  to  the  Secretary. 

(EXTRACT.) 


Chester,  March  22,  1730. 
Revd  Sir, 

Having  this  opportunity  I  think  it  my  duty  to  acquaint  you  with  the  state 
of  the  Churches  under  my  care,  which  (thanks  to  God  for  his  blessing  my 
endeavours),  is  as  good  as  any  man  can  expect.  My  churches  being  now  too 
small  to  contain  the  Congregations  they  will  be  under  a  necessity  to  enlarge 
the  buildings.  Since  last  year  at  this  time  I've  baptized  above  a  hundred  and 
fifty  souls,  some  of  which  were  adult  persons  but  most  of  them  Infants  and 
children.  We  have  the  foundations  of  a  Parsonao-e  house  which  the  Concrre- 
gations  unanimously  joining  were  laid  in  Mr.  Humphreys's  time  at  Chester, 
but  some  animosity  arising  betwixt  him  and  his  people  they  desisted  from  this 
good  work  and  now  it  lies  mouldering  away  but  yet  the  foundation  of  the 
building  and  the  work  about  the  cellar  remaining  good  they  have  a  mind  to 
make  another  essay  towards  the  carrying  on  the  house  for  me  and  desire  you, 
Sir,  to  request  the  Society  to  give  them  a  small  Box  of  Glass  sufficient  to 
glaze  it.  The  deep  sense  I  have  of  the  Society's  continual  kindness  to  this 
people  makes  me  even  abashed  (lest  I  be  thought  impertinent)  to  ask  for  any 
further  favour  but  the  consideration  of  the  boundless  goodness  of  that  glo- 
rious body  makes  me  presume   to  make  known  to  you  their  request  in  this 


in  [1730. 

particular  which,  if  granted,  will  be  a  great  means  to  animate  them  to  com- 
pleat  so  necessary  a  work.     *     *     * 

Sir,  &c., 

RICHD  BACKHOUSE. 


Representation  of  the  Missionaries  in  Pennsylvania. 


Newcastle,  16  April,  1730. 

TO  the  HONORABLE  SOCIETY  for  Propagating  the   Gospel  in  For- 
eign Parts  : 

The  humble  representation  of  the  Missionaries  in  the  Province  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  the  County  of  Newcastle,  Kent  and  Sussex  upon  Delaware, 

Sheweth, 

That  by  a  Law  lately  enacted  by  the  Governor  and  General  Assembly  of 
the  said  Province  called  a  Supplement  to  the  Act  entitled  an  Act  for  prevent- 
ing clandestine  marriages,  conformity  to  and  observance  of,  the  Rules  and 
Rubricks  of  the  Church  of  England  in  respect  of  the  Office  for  marriage  is 
made  penal,  by  prescribing  other  orders  and  directions  to  the  Clergy  in  that 
particular  and  that  under  the  forfeiture  of  ^50  for  every  offence  than  they  are 
bound  to  observe  by  any  Law  in  Church  or  State  at  home  as  may  plainly 
appear  from  a  copy  of  the  said  Supplement  herewith  sent. 

2.  That  the  said  supplementary  Law  has  a  manifest  tendency  to  extirpate 
the  doctrine  and  discipline  of  the  church  of  England  out  of  the  said  Province, 
there  being  no  reason  to  imagine  that  those  who  trample  upon  one  branch  of 
her  constitution  in  so  bare  faced  a  manner  will  give  her  better  quarters  in  any 
other  instance  when  it  is  in  their  power  to  effect  her  total  over  throw.  And 
this  is  the  more  surprising  that  the  mildness  and  indulgence  of  the  Govern- 
ment at  home  to  the  people  called  Quakers  is  so  very  conspicuous. 

3.  That  it  deprives  the  members  of  the  Church  of  England  as  well  Laity 


1730.]  i74 

as  Ministers  of  the  Royal  indulgence  granted  to  them  in  Mr.  Penn's  charter 
by  King  Charles  the  2'1. 

4,  That  it  is  arbitrary  and  tyranical,  arrogating  a  power  to  make  laws 
repugnant  to  the  Laws,  Statutes  and  rights  of  the  Kingdom  of  England  which 
presumption  is  null  and  void  by  a  provision  specified  in  sect,  the  5th  of  the 
said  Charter. 

5.  That  it  is  we  humbly  conceive  an  insufferable  encroachment  upon  the 
Honble  Society's  Charter  from  his  Majesty  King  William  the  third,  in  that  it 
presumes  to  fine  and  punish  their  missionaries,  for  officiating  in  those  forms 
and  with  those  ceremonies  which  the  said  Charter  highly  favours  and  author- 
izes to  be  propagated  abroad. 

All  which  particulars  being  considered  we  cannot  but  promise  ourselves 
the  best  endeavours  of  our  Hon'ble  Patrons  to  put  a  stop  to  the  execution  of 
the  above  odious  and  tyranical  Law  by  getting  it  repealed  at  the  King's  Coun- 
cil Board,  and  to  take  such  further  methods  as  may  most  effectually  secure 
your  missionaries  in  the  service  of  the  Church  against  the  inroads  and  insults, 
of  those,  who  have  inclination  enough  to  make  their  pecuniary  mulcts  to  ter- 
minate at  length  in  sanguinary  Laws. 

We  are, 
May  it  please  the  Hon'ble  Society  &c., 

GEO.  ROSS,  Missr>'  at  New  Castle. 

ROBT  WEYMAN,  Missry  at  Oxon  &  Radnor. 

WM  BECKET,  Missry  at  Lewes. 

WAL.  HACKET,  Missry  at  Apoquinimink. 

RICHD  BACKHOUSE,  Missr>'  at  Chester. 


175  [i/30. 

Supplement  to  a?i  Act  Passed  in  Pennsylvania  to  Prevent 
Clandestine   Marriages. 


3d  King  George  2d. 

A  SUPPLEMENT  to  an  Act,  Intituled  an  Act  for  Preventing  Clandestine 

Marriages. 

Whereas  the  good  intention  of  an  Act  of  Assembly  of  this  Province  Inti- 
tuled an  Act  for  preventing  clandestine  marriages  hath  been  very  much  eluded 
by  reason  that  no  proper  penalty  is  by  the  law  imposed  upon  the  justice  of 
the  Peace  or  other  persons  marrying  or  joining  in  marriage  any  persons  con- 
trary to  the  intent  and  meaning  of  the  said  act  for  the  remedying  whereof, 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Honble  Patrick  Gordon,  Esqr.,  Lieutenant  Governor 
of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  &c,  by  and  with  the  consent  and  advice  of 
the  representatives  of  the  Freemen  of  the  said  Province,  in  a  General  Assem- 
bly met  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  that  no  Justice  of  the  Peace 
shall  subscribe  his  name  to  the  publication  of  any  marriage  within  this  Prov- 
ince intended  to  be  had  between  any  persons  whatsoever  unless  one  of  the 
persons  at  least  live  in  the  County  where  such  Justice  dwells  and  unless  such 
Justice  shall  likewise  have  first  produced  to  him  a  certificate  of  the  consent  of 
the  Parent  or  Parents,  Guardian  or  Guardians,  Master  or  Mistress  of  the  per- 
son whose  names  or  Banns  are  to  be  published,  if  either  of  the  parties  be 
under  the  age  of  21  years  or  under  the  tuition  of  their  Parents  or  be  Indented 
Servant ;  If  such  Parent,  Guardian,  Master  or  Mistress  live  within  this  Prov- 
ince or  can  be  consulted  with.  And  also  that  no  person  or  persons  of  what 
character  or  degree  soever  he  be,  presume  to  publish  the  Banns  of  matrimony 
or  intentions  of  Marriage  between  any  person  or  persons  in  any  Church,  chapel 
or  other  place  of  worship  within  this  Province  unless  one  of  the  parties  at 
least  live  in  the  Town,  County  or  City  where  such  publication  shall  be  made 
and  unless  the  person  or  persons  making  or  causing  to  be  made  such  publica- 
tion shall  have  received  such  Certificate  of  the  consent  of  the  Parent,  Guar- 
dian, Master  or  Mistress  as  is  hereinbefore  directed.  If  the  parties  who 
ought  to  grant  such  Certificate  live  within  this  Province  and  if  any  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  Clergyman,  Minister  or  other  person  shall  take  upon  him  or  them 


1730.]  176 

to  join  in  marriage  any  person  or  persons,  or  if  any  Justice  of  the  Peace  shall 
be  present  at  and  subscribe  his  name  as  a  Witness  to  any  marriage,  within 
this  Province  without  such  publication  being  first  made  as  aforesaid,  Such  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  clergyman,  minister  or  other  person  taking  upon  him  to 
sign,  make  or  cause  to  be  made  any  publication  contrary  to  the  directions  of 
this  Act  or  shall  marry  or  join  in  marriage  any  person  or  persons  not  pub- 
lished as  in  the  aforesaid  Act  of  Assembly  and  by  this  Act  is  directed,  every 
Justice  of  Peace,  clergyman  or  other  person  so  offending  shall  for  every  such 
offence  forfeit  the  sum  of  ^50  to  be  recovered  in  any  Court  of  Record  within 
this  Province  By  Bill,  plaint  or  Information  by  the  person  or  persons  grieved 
if  they  will  sue  for  the  same  wherein  no  Essoin,  protection  or  wager  of  Law 
nor  any  more  than  one  imparlance  shall  be  allowed. 

Provided  that  nothing  herein  contained  shall  be  deemed  to  extend  to  any 
person  who  shall  be  married  in  the  Religious  Society  to  which  they  belong  so 
as  notice  be  given  to  the  Parent  or  Parents,  Guardian  or  Guardians,  Masters 
or  Mistresses  of  the  person  or  persons  so  to  be  married,  If  such  Parent, 
Guardian,  Master  or  Mistress  live  within  this  Province,  at  least  twenty  days 
before  such  marriage  be  solemnized  ;  nor  that  this  Law  shall  extend  to  any  per- 
son marrying  by  the  authority  of  any  lawful  License  so  as  such  consent  or 
approbation  in  writing  of  the  Parent  or  Parents,  Guardian  or  Guardians,  Mas- 
ters or  Mistresses  as  by  this  Act  is  directed  be  first  had  and  the  same  consent 
be  certified  in  the  Body  of  the  said  License,  any  thing  herein  or  in  the  afore- 
said Act  of  Assembly  contained  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  House, 

$  A.  HAMILTON. 

A  true  Copy :  examined, 

^  Charles  Brockden.  M.  Rot.  Dep'. 

N.  B. — The  Revd  Mr.  Cummings,  the  Bishop  of  London's  Commissary, 
has  engaged  to  send  his  Lordship  an  authentic  copy  of  the  above  Law. 


*77  [i73i- 

M\   CUM  MINGS  to  the    Secretary. 


Philadelphia,  29th  June,  1 73 1 . 
May  it  please  the  Hon'ble  Society, 

This  comes  to  accompany  a  Petition  from  the  churchwardens  of  Oxford, 
who,  with  several  others  of  that  congregation  have  often  been  with  me  since 
Mr.  Weyman's  removal  to  Burlington  desiring  to  represent  their  case  to  your 
pious  consideration,  but  I  deferred  giving  you  the  trouble  till  I  could  learn 
what  success  the  Petitions  from  Whitemarsh  and  Perquihoma  would  meet 
with  and  the  rather  because  Mr.  Weyman  (whose  design  to  remove  from 
Oxford  I  knew  nothing  of  when  I  sent  home  the  aforesaid  Petitions),  told  me 
he  had  begged  your  honors  to  join  Whitemarsh  and  Oxford  under  the  care  of 
one  missionary.  Mr.  Alexander  Howie  arrived  about  ten  days  ago  and  find- 
ing he  is  appointed  to  Whitemarsh  and  Perquihoma,  I  beg  leave  to  acquaint 
the  Hon'ble  Society  that  it  would  be  every  way  more  convenient  to  appoint 
him  missionary  to  Oxford  and  Whitemarsh  as  lying  nearer  one  another  at  the 
distance  only  of  6  or  7  short  miles,  and  Perquihoma  and  Radnor  (which  wants 
one  too  very  much),  lye  at  the  same  distance  whereas  Radnor  and  Oxford  are 
above  20  miles  distant  one  from  another.  Radnor  being,  generally  speaking, 
inhabited  by  Welch  men,  'twill  be  in  a  manner  necessary,  to  send  one  that 
speaks  that  Language  among  them.  I  heartily  thank  the  Hon'ble  Society  for 
the  seasonable  present  of  the  Bishop  of  London's  Pastoral  Letters.  I  have 
distributed  them  according  to  directions  and  hope  they  will  do  much  good  in 
a  place  where  some  of  the  enemies  of  Christianity  are  in  civil  offices  and  very 
industrious  to  import  and  spread  all  the  Books  and  Pamphlets  that  are  levelled 
against  Revelation  and  the  Clergy.  I  have  done  all  that  lies  in  my  power  to 
prevent  this  spreading  of  irreligious  principles  till  I  find  the  edge  of  their 
malice  turned  against  me  but  thro'  God's  assistance  no  injury  from  them  either 
felt  or  feared  shall  be  able  to  hinder  me  from  doing  my  duty. 

I  am,  may  it  please,  &c, 

ARCHD  CUMMINGS. 


1732.]  178 

M\    HOWIE  to  the  Secretary. 


Oxford,  Pensilvania,  July  20th  1732. 
May  it  please  the  Hon.  Society, 

I  beg  leave  to  inform  you  of  the  success  of  my  mission.  The  congrega- 
tion belonging  to  Perquioma  church  encreases  greatly ;  at  the  entrance  upon 
my  ministry  in  this  place  the  numbers  of  my  hearers  were  very  small  but  for 
some  time  past  they  have  enlarged  very  considerably  &  continue  so  to  do  by 
a  daily  coming  over  of  Roman  Catholicks,  Anabaptists  &  Quakers,  which  last  I 
have  taken  strict  care  to  instruct  in  principles  of  religion  before  I  baptised 
them  or  admitted  them  to  the  Lord's  supper.  In  all  appearance  they  seem  to 
have  quitted  their  former  persuasions  &  constantly  attend  divine  service  at 
this  church. 

As  for  the  congregation  belonging  to  Whitmarsh  church  I'me  very  sorry 
that  it  will  not  bear  the  former  character.  The  people  here  in  no  respect  do 
answer  the  pious  end  of  the  Society.  In  general  they  are  careless  livers  & 
quite  indifferent  about  religion,  however  my  utmost  endeavours  both  from  the 
pulpit  and  in  private  conversation  shall  not  be  a  wanting  to  bring  them  to  a 
better  way  of  thinking.  I  hope  they  will  grow  better  &  amend  their  present 
practices. 

I  have  taken  care  to  prevail  with  two  country  Schoolmasters  to  instruct 
their  children  in  the  catechisms  &  last  Sunday  I  catechised  1 5  boys  &  girls 
publicly  in  Perquioma  church  which  is  a  great  many  in  this  wild  unpolished 
part  of  the  country  where  the  professors  of  Christianity  are  so  miserably 
divided  &  mangled  among  themselves.  Nay,  the  parents  are  moved  with  a 
generous  pride  in  striving  to  make  their  children  outdo  one  another.  The 
numbers  of  communicants  increase  considerably  here. 

At  the  earnest  solicitations  of  a  Sweedish  congregation  about  30  miles  back 
in  the  country,  I  have  undertaken  to  read  prayers  &  preach  among  them  once 
in  2  months  in  the  middle  of  the  week  so  that  I  may  not  be  absent  on  Sun- 
days from  the  other  churches  under  my  care.  The  Sweedes  are  a  people  that 
should  be  encouraged  for  upon  all  occasions  they  have  discovered  their  good 
will  &  friendship  to  the  church  of  England  in  these  parts.  I  have  also 
engaged  to  preach  at  Oxford  once   in   3  weeks  till  such  time  as  they  are 


179  [1732. 

provided  of  a  missionary.  As  to  the  proposed  alteration  to  be  made  in  the 
missions  of  Oxford  &  Radnor  &  Whitmarsh  &  Perquioma,  I  agree  to  it  for 
between  Whitemarsh  and  Perquioma  it  is  a  long  way  and  very  dangerous 
travelling  for  the  greatest  part  of  the  year  so  that  I  have  run  the  hazard  of 
losing  my  life  in  riding  over  Creeks  between  the  two  churches.  Therefore  I 
crave  the  Venerable  Society  will  be  pleased  to  appoint  me  missionary  to 
Oxford  and  Whitemarsh  whose  parish  churches  are  only  a  few  miles  distant 
from  each  other.  Whereas  the  other  two,  namely,  Perquioma  &  Radnor  are 
contiguous  &  may  be  much  more  conveniently  supplyed  in  conjunction  one 
with  the  other,  I  am  with  all  due  esteem,  yours,  &c.,  &c, 

ALEX.    HOWIE. 


M\    BACKHOUSE    to  the  Secretary. 


Chester  in  Pensilvania,  Novr  7th  1732. 
Revd  Sir, 

Having  this  opportunity  I  think  it  my  duty  to  acquaint  you  how  the  affairs 
of  my  churches  stand  &  to  my  great  comfort  I  assure  you  they  are  in  a  very 
flourishing  state.  I  have  had  my  health  very  well,  blessed  be  God  for  it,  these 
1 2  months  past  &  as  I  have  been  enabled  to  visit  my  distant  congregations  at 
their  appointed  times  their  expectations  never  met  with  any  disappointment. 
At  the  church  40  miles  back  where  I  preach  once  every  four  weeks  the  con- 
gregation is  great  &  I  have  baptised  there  in  one  year  above  50  children. 

My  hearers  at  Chester  &  Concord  are  such  Proficients  in  Christianity  that 
(with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  &  satisfaction  I  speak  it)  their  lives  adorn  their 
profession  &  when  ever  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  communicated 
abundance  of  devout  communicants  receive  it. 

When  Mr.  Ross  served  the  church  at  Chester  I  understand  the  Hon.  Society 
was  pleased  to  allow  a  small  sum  for  encouraging  a  school  there  and  the 
Quakers  so  far  exceed  us  in  numbers  &  worldly  interest  &  so  much  discoun- 
tenance any  school  master  of  our  profession  in  settling  among  us  that  there 
is  as  great  occasion  now  as  heretofore  to  support  the  cause  of  religion  in  the 
said  place.     I  heartily  pray  that  the  said  salary  may  be  continued  &   settled 


1732.]  i8o 

upon  a  school  master  here  upon  those  terms  the  Society  was  pleased  to 
appoint  at  first  &  were  I  not  afraid  to  disoblige  I  would  humbly  suggest  the 
reasonableness  of  augmenting  the  Salary  they  gave  before  of  £6  a  year  to 
;£io  but  I  leave  it  to  Mr.  Ross  who  perfectly  knows  the  state  of  affairs  here 
to  lay  this  matter  more  at  large  before  the  Honble  Board.  The  person  who 
keeps  the  school  at  present  is  a  brother  of  mine  &  therefore  I  choose  to  say 
little.  However  pray  acquaint  the  Society  Avith  my  request  &  you  will 
highly  oblige, 

Revd  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient 

Humble  Servant, 

RICHARD  BACKHOUSE. 


M'\    CUM  MINGS    to    the    Secretary. 


Philadelphia  in  Pensylvania,  Mar  8th   1732. 
Revd  Sir. 

This  comes  by  the  Revd  Mr.  Forbes  who  has  been  in  America  about  13 
months  &  for  a  good  part  of  the  said  time  has  stayed  in  this  City  and  often 
supplyed  Oxford  church  which  has  been  vacant  ever  since  Mr.  Weyman's 
removal  to  Burlington.  I  mention  this  because  perhaps  the  Honble  Society 
may  consider  him  for  the  trouble  seeing  he  has  subsisted  all  the  time  upon 
his  own  cost  and  charges.  He  has  some  thoughts  of  returning  to  these  parts 
provided  the  Society  think  fit  to  appoint  him  missionary  in  Monmouth  County 
New  Jersey,  where  the  people  have  built  a  good  church,  subscribed  towards 
the  subsistance  of  a  minister  &  some  time  ago  petitioned  the  Hon.  Society  for 
their  kind  assistance.  Mr.  Forbes  is  a  gentleman  that  deserves  to  be  encour- 
aged &  is  capable,  I'me  persuaded,  of  doing  a  vast  deal  of  good  by  the 
considerable  share  that  he  is  master  of  both  as  to  Learning  &  Prudence. 

I  wrote  to  you  6  months  ago  what  I  knew  of  Mr.  Neville  whom  you 
recommended  to  me  &  have  to  add  now  but  that  he  has  been  since  that  time 
at  my  house  once  or  twice  &  assures  me  that   would  his  friends  but  send  him 


iSi  [1733. 

over  ^40  in  well  chosen  goods   he  would  be  able  to  pay  all  his  debts  &  put 
himself  in  a  way  of  subsisting  decently. 

There  was  a  clergyman,  one  Mr.  Hughes,  a  Welch  man,  unfortunately  lost 
last  Decembr  at  the  mouth  of  our  river.  He  had  the  Bp  of  London's  Licence 
for  the  Province  of  New  York  but  whether  he  had  any  mission  from  the 
Society  I  could  not  learn.  However  as  I  was  sorry  for  his  untimely  death  so 
was  glad  when  I  understood  he  was  not  the  missionary  designed  for  Radnor 
whom  the  congregation  impatiently  expect.  One  Mr .  Affleck  a  Sweedish 
missionary  who  came  passenger  in  the  same  ship  with  Mr.  Hughes  by 
her  being  cast  away  tho'  he  happily  saved  his  life  yet  lost  all  his  clothes, 
books  &c.  He  begs  earnestly  of  me  to  mention  him  to  the  Society  hoping  they 
will  commisserate  his  loss  &  be  pleased  to  order  him  some  assistance.  He 
writes  to  his  friend  Mr.  Serenius  the  Sweedish  Pastor  of  a  congregation  in  Lon- 
don who  will  represent  his  case.  All  the  missionarys  in  this  province  are  well 
placed,  &  diligent  in  their  respective  stations.  I  beg  the  favour  of  a  line 
from  you  in  answer  to  my  letters  of  August  last  &  have  nought  to  add  but 
that  I  am  with  great  respect,  Dear  Sir,  yours  &c, 

ARCHD  CUMMINGS. 


M".   BACKHOUSE  to    the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Chester,  Pensilvania,  Octr  ist  1733. 
Revd  Sir, 

A  sense  of  the  duty  incumbent  upon  me  to  give  at  least  once  a  year  an 
account  of  my  mission  to  the  Honble  Society  makes  me  take  this  opportunity 
to  acquaint  you  that  the  churches  under  my  care  are  in  good  condition.  I 
constantly  as  usual  preach  2  Sundays  in  a  month  at  Chester,  one  at  Marcus 
hook,  another  at  Concord.  The  communicants  of  the  congregation  belonging 
to  Marcus  Hook  being  so  near  Chester  generally  at  the  appointed  times  come 
to  receive  the  Sacrament  of  the   Lord's  Supper  at  Chester.     But  I  always 


1733-']  182 

administer  it  to  the  Communicants  of  Concord  at  their  church  there,  where  I 
find  always  a  good  number  of  sober  and  serious  Christians  partakers 
of  that  heavenly  feast.  That  Journey  40  miles  back  once  a  month  to  the 
church  of  Pequia  is  almost  too  hard  for  my  constitution  :  &  all  that  are 
acquainted  with  the  length  &  ruffness  of  the  way  cannot  but  be  surprised  that 
I  have  been  able  to  perform  the  journey  all  weathers  so  duely  &  regularly  as 
I  have  done.  But  indeed  the  Congregation  are  so  very  earnest  &  importu- 
nate that  I  cannot  evade  visiting  them ;  in  my  usual  method  &  as  I  first 
engaged.  There  lately  at  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  I  had  43  com- 
municants &  many  that  used  constantly  to  attend  were  hindred  by  the 
wetness  of  the  season. 

I  am  persuaded  were  the  Society  able  and  willing  to  settle  a  missionary 
there  he  would  find  a  good  living  in  that  and  some  other  adjacent  congrega- 
tions in  Lancaster  County  as  I  have  in  3  below  viz  :  Chester,  Concord  & 
Marcus  Hook.  There  is  in  that  County  a  great  quantity  of  English,  Irish, 
French  &  Dutch  who  have  a  just  value  for  the  church  of  England  &  earnestly 
desire  a  Teacher  of  that  Communion.         *         *         * 

RICHARD  BACKHOUSE. 


THE  HUMBLE  ADDRESS  of  the  inhabitants  of  Pequea 
&f  parts  adjacent  (members  of  the  Church  of  England) 
to  the  SOCIETY. 


ST  John's  Church,  Pequay  Oct.  2,  1732. 
Very  Venerable  Gentlemen, 

A  Poor  unhappy  People  settled  by  God's  providence,  to  procure  by  Labor- 
ious industry,  a  subsitence  for  our  families,  make  bold  to  apply  ourselves  to 
God,  thro'  that  very  pious  and  charitable  society  his  happy  instruments  to  dis- 
perse his  Blessings  in  these  remote  parts.  That  as  his  goodness  has  vouch- 
safed us  a  moderate  support  for  our  bodies  his  holy  Spirit  may  influence  you 
to  provide  us  with  spiritual  food  for  our  souls.  In  this  case  our  indigence  is 
excessive  and  our  destitution  deplorable,  having  never  been  so  blessed  as  to 


183  [i/52. 

have  a  person  settled  among  us  to  dispense  the  august  ordinances  of  religion, 
insomuch  that  even  the  name  of  it  is  almost  lost  among  us.  The  virtue  and 
energy  of  it  over  our  lives  expiring  especially  since  your  worthy  missionary, 
Mr.  Richard  Backhouse  is  deceased,  who  spared  no  labor  in  visiting  and  com- 
ing once  a  month  on  a  week  day  to  administer  divine  service  among  us  at  S' 
John's  Church  at  Pequea,  tho'  he  lived  50  miles  distant  from  us,  and  as  we  are 
now  left  destitute  and  live  far  distant  from  any  of  the  established  Churches 
where  the  Revd  the  missionaries  are  appointed  to  officiate,  we  are  exposed  to 
the  temptations  of  joyning  with  Dissenters  who  are  very  numerous,  and  are 
constantly  supplied  with  ministers  of  their  sort  who  are  very  industrious  to 
draw  away  the  hearts  of  many  well  inclined  members  of  the  Church  for  want 
of  opportunities  of  worship  more  agreable  to  their  consciences.  Insomuch 
that  we  may  cry  out,  with  Holy  David,  "we  are  become  a  by  word  among  the 
Heathen  and  a  shaking  of  the  head  among  the  people;"  that  further  we  (of 
S'  John's  Church)  had  not  been  humbly  bold  to  address  you  in  this  nature, 
except  we  had  first  made  some  preparation,  for  the  proper  reception  of  a 
missionary,  having  by  the  assistance  of  our  pious  and  belov'd  Sister  and 
Church  member  Martha  Byzallion,  Purchased  a  hundred  acres  for  a  Glebe 
Land,  and  She  has  given  us,  ^"100  in  Cash  towards  the  said  purchase,  by 
which  means,  we  have  obtained  a  Pattent  for  our  Church  uses,  together  with 
some  further  expectations  of  her  kindness  provided  we  be  so  fortunate  and 
happy  as  to  be  heard  by  your  Honble  Board.         *         *         * 


From  M\  JENNET  to  the  SECRETARY. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  Nov.  18,  1752. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  As  to  our  Church  here  ;  things  go  on  pretty  smoothly 

waiting  (I  suppose)  the  direction  of  the  proprietaries  especially  the  elder  of 
the  two  Mr.  Thos  Penn.     Indeed  we  may  say  of  the  Church  in  general  in 


1752.]  184 

these  parts,  that  it  is  never  like  to  be  better  than  a  tool  to  the  Politics  of  great 
men,  who  are  not  always  her  friends,  and  scarcely  ever  longer  than  they  can 
make  her  instrumental  in  promoting  their  designs,  which  she  cannot  always 
fairly  do  :  so  that  I  humbly  conceive,  she  must  be  cleared  of  that  dependance 
by  some  kind  of  a  Church  governm1  upon  the  spot  to  give  us  any  hope  of 
success  in  the  ministry.  I  pray  God  to  put  it  in  the  hearts  of  our  superiors  at 
home  to  give  us  relief  in  this  point. 

I  take  the  liberty  to  remind  you  of  what  I  intimated  to  you  once  before, 
that  there  seems  to  be  an  absolute  necessity  of  an  itinerant  Missionary  in 
West  New  Jersey,  which  being  a  vast  tract  of  Land,  with  several  extensive 
counties  and  many  Churches  in  it,  hath  but  one  settled  missionary,  Mr.  Camp- 
bell at  Burlington.     *     *     * 


M\   READING  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Apoquiniminck,  Oct.  10,  1752. 
Rev"  worthy  Sir, 

That  branch  of  my  duty  which  relates  to  the  conversion  of  the  unhappy 
slaves  affords  the  least  comfortable  prospect.  I  have  often  both  publickly  and 
privately  recommended  it  to  the  masters  and  mistresses  as  a  duty  of  the 
greatest  importance  to  forward  as  much  as  in  them  lies,  the  instruction  of  their 
slaves  ;  and  in  serious,  well  governed  families  this  has  had  so  good  effect  as  to 
bring  some  negro  adults  and  many  of  their  children  to  Christian  Baptism  ; 
but  these  converts  bear  no  proportion,  to  the  numbers  of  those  who  live  as 
without  God  in  the  world.  Some  even  of  our  own  Church  who  are  otherwise 
well  inclined  Christians  are  strongly  prejudiced  against  their  slaves  being  in- 
structed ;  and  I  sincerely  wish  that  the  slaves  themselves  by  their  rebellious 
behaviour  after  baptism,  had  not  given  too  much  cause  for  such  prejudice  : 
and  for  the  looser  part  of  mankind  it  can  hardly  be  expected  that  those  should 
promote  the  spiritual  welfare  of  this  meanest  branch  of  their  families,  who 
think  but  little  (if  at  all),  of  their  own  eternal  State.         *         *         * 


l85  [i752- 

M\    THOMPSON. to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Chester  in  Pennsylvania,  Apr.  23,  1752. 
Revd  Sir, 

This  great  decrease  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  Chester, 
is  evidently  the  effect  of  dividing  the  congregation  by  setting  up  two  other 
places  for  Public  Worship,  viz:  one  at  Concord  about  8  miles,  and  the  other  at 
Chichester,  only  4  miles  from  the  Mission  Church,  which  by  this  means  having 
been  greatly  neglected,  the  people  living  in  &  near  Chester  have  most  of  them 
fallen  off  to  the  meeting.  The  few  Church  members  that  live  at  Chichester 
have  erected  a  small  house  for  a  place  of  worship,  and  talk  of  Petitioning  the 
Society  for  a  missionary  to  themselves  ;  and  those  of  Concord,  who  are  much 
scattered  in  their  settlements,  would  have  another  missionary,  tho'  it  is  a 
certain  truth,  that  both  together  are  not  able  to  purchase  a  house  for  a  mis- 
sionary, and  far  less  to  contribute  any  thing  annually  to  his  support.  There 
are  townships  in  this  County  of  20,  30  &  40  miles  distance  from  Chester 
Church,  where  a  missionary  might  be  usefully  employ'd  and  yet  these  that 
take  the  name  of  Churchmen  at  Chichester  and  Concord,  unreasonably 
contend  that  the  missionary  at  Chester  shall  perform  Public  Service  at  their 
places  of  worship,  as  often  as  at  Chester  Church,  which  is  commodiously  situ- 
ated in  the  most  populous  part  of  the  Country,  upon  the  only  channal  of  their 
Commerce  and  which  had  the  grant  of  a  resident  Missionary  about  50  years 
aofo.  Another  cause  of  the  declining-  state  of  the  Church  of  Chester  are  the 
feuds  and  breaches  that  have  been  all  along  from  the  beginning  between  the 
several  missionaries  and  one  or  two  of  the  leaders  of  the  people,  who  gener- 
ally value  a  missionary  only  for  the  annuity  he  has  to  spend,  and  their  own 
share  of  it ;  for  if  a  missionary  leaves  off  dealing  or  shuns  too  intimate  famil- 
iarity with  them,  they  presently  become  his  enemies,  and  stick  at  no  impudent 
calumnies  &  Slanders  to  render  his  short  life  unhappy  and  his  pious  labours 
useless.  The  late  missionary'  here  was  a  flagrant  instance  of  this  ungenerous 
treatment,  and  the  authors  of  it  are  still  in  being  and  seem  to  retain  the  same 
disposition.  When  I  entered  on  the  mission  of  Chester  a  twelve  month  ago, 
24 


1752.]  i86 

I  found  no  Church  wardens  or  vestry  only  some  of  those  who  had  been  church 
officers  10  years  ago  ;  the  Church  ready  to  fall  to  ruin  ;  the  surplice  that  was 
a  royal  present,  rotting  under  the  Reading  desk,  and  a  considerable  part  of 
the  Missionary's  Library  spoil'd  or  lost ;  no  House  for  a  Missionary  to  live  in 
or  contribution  for  his  better  support ;  nay,  not  a  fit  house  to  hire  at  Chester, 
which  laid  me  under  a  necessity  of  living  3  months  at  Chichester  commonly 
called  Marcus  Hook. 

I  had  4  Communicants  on  Christmas  day  &  only  6  on  Easter  Sunday  ; 
have  baptized  1  2  Children  and  instruct  and  examine  the  youth  all  the  summer 
long  in  some  part  of  the  Church  Catechism. 

After  service  on  Easter  Monday,  public  notice  having  been  given  the  day 
before  there  were  no  more  than  7  persons  that  appeared  to  choose  a  vestry 
and  church  wardens.  They  shew  no  manner  of  Regard  to  the  Society's  Letter 
to  them  about  providing  a  house  and  making  some  contribution  towards  the 
missionaries'  better  support,  for  in  fact  there  is  neither  the  one  nor  the  other 
at  present.  It  is  very  notorious  that  the  professed  members  of  the  Church 
here  are  far  more  neglectful  of  their  Clergy  than  any  of  the  various  sects  are 
of  their  public  teachers,  and  'tis  a  prevailing  opinion  amongst  the  vulgar,  that 
a  clergyman  ought  to  lead  a  dejected,  austere  and  very  mean  life  that  he  may 
have  real  occasion  to  make  use  of  all  the  patience  which  he  recommends  to 
the  afflicted  and  miserable.  I  am  sorry  I  cannot  give  a  more  agreable  account 
of  a  mission  granted  50  years  ago,  and  supported  since  that  time  by  the  ven- 
erable society  at  the  expence  of  ^3000  Sterling  besides  the  charge  of  Mis- 
sionaries' Library  and  other  books,  but  I  dare  not  disguise  or  conceal  the  truth 
on  this  occasion,  no  !  not  for  bread  itself.  That  the  divine  author  of  the  Gos- 
pel may  direct  and  assist  the  Society  in  the  best  ways  and  means  for  the 
propogation  of  it,  is  the  daily  and  fervent  prayer  of, 

Revd  Sir, 

Their  devoted  and  greatly  oblgd  Mission7 
and  humble  Servant, 

THOs  THOMPSON. 


i87 


[i752- 


M\    CRAIG  to  the   Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Lancaster  in  the  province  of 

Pensylvania,  June  16,  1752. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  Where  my  predecessor  Mr.  Lock  resided,  there   is   a 

very  good  stone  Church,  which  will  be  completely  finished  this  summer.  I 
hoped  it  would  have  been  so  before  now,  but  the  want  of  a  minister  discour- 
aged the  people,  which  is  a  common  case  in  this  province,  and  I'm  very  sorry 
the  Society's  income  cannot  remedy  the  evil,  there  being  but  one  way  left,  of 
removing  (to  use  the  common  expression  of  the  people),  such  a  famine  of  the 
word,  and  that  is  by  sending  a  Bishop  to  America,  for  the  expence  of  going 
to  England  from  hence,  and  which  is  worse  their  repeated  intimations  of  the 
Society's  Low  circumstances,  deter  many  young  men  from  the  attempt,  and 
determine  them  another  way,  tho'  well  disposed  towards  us,  who  I'm  persuaded 
would  be  satisfied,  with  such  encouragement  as  some  congregations  could 
give  them  by  voluntary  subscriptions,  as  there  is  no  legal  provision  in  this 
province  for  any.         *         *         * 


From  Mr.   READING  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Apoquiniminck,  Mar.  26,  1752. 
Revd  Worthy  Sir, 

The  Revd  Mr.  Neil,  the  Society's  missionary  in  Kent 
county,  having  favored  me  with  a  visit  in  Sep*  last  we  then  agreed  upon  taking 
a  journey  together  to  Sussex  in  order  to  visit  the  Churches  of  that  County, 


1 734-]  1 88 

vacated  by  the  absence  of  Mr.  Usher  in  Ireland.  Accordingly  on  the  9th  of 
Octr  I  set  out  from  Apoquiniminck,  and  the  same  day  met  Mr.  Neil  at  Dover, 
the  Chief  Town  of  the  County  of  Kent.  On  the  1  Ith  we  proceeded  to  Sussex 
and  continued  our  progress  for  several  successive  days,  reading  divine  Service 
and  preaching  to  the  several  congregations  within  this  Mission  :  At  Lewes 
Town  three  times,  at  Cedar  Creek  twice,  and  at  Sl  Geroge's  Church,  near 
Indian  River,  once.  At  the  two  former  Churches  we  administered  the  Sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord's  Supper,  at  Lewes  to  about  30  and  at  Cedar  Creek,  to  near 
the  same  number  of  communicants,  and  at  each  place  several  children  were 
admitted  into  the  Church  by  Baptism.  The  members  of  these  respective  con- 
gregations, expressed  themselves  thankful  for  our  seasonable  visit,  those  of 
Cedar  Creek  in  particular,  who  intimated  that  provided  part  of  the  labours  of 
a  missionary  could  be  secured  to  them,  they  would  do  their  endeavour  to  pro- 
cure a  convenient  Glebe  for  his  better  support  there  being  no  provision  of  that 
kind  throughout  the  whole  County  of  Sussex,         *  * 


M\   HUGHES   to   the    Secretary, 


(EXTRACT.) 

Radnor,  Pensylvania  March  2,  1733-4 
Revd  Sir, 

I  have  the  pleasure  of  acquainting  the  Honble  Society  at  my  first  entry  upon 
my  mission  I  was  very  kindly  received  especially  by  the  Welch.  In  my  im- 
mediate proceedings  after  my  arrival  I  endeavord  at  those  methods  that  would 
best  answer  the  trust  reposed  in  me,  and  to  that  end  besides  performing  those 
duties  that  particularly  belong  to  my  office  I  have  visited  all  my  parishioners 
at  their  respective  houses  and  found  a  great  many  of  them  much  neglected  in 
their  education  &  ignorant  of  the  very  fundamentals  of  religion,  &  others 
whose  principles  were  very  much  vitiated  with  false  doctrines.  I  endeavord 
to  rectify  the  mistakes  of  the  latter  and  to  instruct  the  former  what  was  neces- 
sary to  be  believed  &  practised.     I  had  no  sooner  finished  this  task  then  I 


189  [i734. 

found  a  great  necessity  of  visiting  a  great  many  Welch  &  English  Gent™  that 
lived  far  back  in  the  woods,  where  I  found  a  great  number  of  well  disposed 
persons,  but  entirely  destitute  of  a  Minister.  At  their  earnest  request  I  have 
gone  there  several  times  since  and  for  a  long  time  had  no  other  place  to 
preach  but  under  the  shade  of  a  large  tree,  their  houses  being  to  small  to  con- 
tain the  great  number  that  resorted  there.  My  last  journey  to  them  comple- 
ted in  all  1 105  miles  besides  my  weekly  attendance  at  Radnor  &  Perquihoma 
at  either  of  which  churches  I  preach  and  catechize  every  Sunday. 


Mr.  HO  IF  IE  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Oxford  in  Pensylvania, 

April  27th  1734. 
May  it  please  the  Right  Honble  Society, 

I  take  this  opportunity  (the  first  I  have  had  since  I  removed  from  Perqui- 
oma),  to  inform  you  of  the  success  of  my  mission. 

The  congregation  at  Oxford  increases  so  much  that  there  is  not  room  in 
the  church  to  hold  them,  but  for  their  better  accommodation  they  design  soon 
either  to  raise  a  gallery  or  to  enlarge  the  outward  building.  Since  last  month 
was  a  year  I  have  baptized  70  children  &  26  grown  persons,  some  of  them 
aged  men  &  women  almost  lost  in  the  wilderness  of  quakerism  &  anabaptis- 
tical  errors.  They  informed  themselves  of  the  principles  of  Christianity  & 
gave  tolerable  answers  to  the  questions  I  asked  them  before  they  were  ini- 
tiate. 

Last  Easter  day  I  administered  the  sacrament  at  Oxford  &  had  46  commu- 
nicants, persons  of  good  life  and  conversation,  who  are  serious  in  religion  & 
have  a  due  regard  to  the  Church  of  England.  In  short  I  have  to  observe 
that  religion  was  never  in  a  more  flourishing  condition  here  than  now.  Twice 
a  year  I  visit  all  my  common  hearers  in  their  own  houses  and  many  dissen- 
ters of  all  denominations  by  which  means  in  these  ^  of  a  year  by  past  I  have 


1 734-]  «  190 

gained  over  to  the  Church  of  England  2  Romans  3  Independents  4  Quakers 
&  3  anabaptists.  They  have  quitted  their  former  errors  and  constantly  attend 
our  service  at  church.  Last  October  I  spent  a  whole  week  in  visiting  the  In- 
habitants of  Hunterdown  County  in  New  Jersey  about  50  miles  from  this 
place  where  I  preached  2  sermons  upon  the  lawfulness  of  Infant  Baptism  in  2 
different  places  and  baptized  in  all  30  children  &  9  adults.  Upon  the  earnest 
solicitation  of  the  people  I  have  undertaken  to  go  and  preach  among  them 
once  in  three  months.  But  tho'  religion  flourishes  in  Oxford  yet  I  am  very 
sorry  to  observe  that  it  greatly  decays  in  White  Marsh.  The  people  here  in 
no  respect  do  answer  the  pious  end  of  the  Society.  The  number  of  sincere 
church  people  does  not  exceed  7  at  most.  The  large  scroll  of  subscribers 
sent  home  from  this  place  is  made  up  mostly  of  men  of  no  repute. 


M'\  BACKHOUSE  to  the  Secretary. 


Chester,  Pensylvania,  Octr  30th  1734. 
*  *  *  My  churches  at  Chester  &  Concord  consist  of  a  body  of  sober, 
serious  christians.  But  we  are  by  far  out-numbered  by  the  Disser.ters  espe- 
cially the  Quakers.  Indeed  the  largest  congregations  that  I  have,  that  at  Pe- 
quea,  where  are  very  few  Quakers  yet  the  presbyterians  are  there  very  thick 
settled  and  make  the  greatest  body  of  people.  Thank  God  I  live  as  quiet 
among  both  these  kinds  of  Dissenters  as  any  clergyman  of  our  communion  can 
expect  to  do  as  my  endeavors  to  work  in  them  a  good  opinion  of  the  Church  of 
England  by  fair  means  &  in  as  easy  &  persuasive  a  way  as  possibly  I  could 
without  moving  their  choler  have  had  on  some  of  them  a  very  good  effect. 


J9i  [i734- 

M\   CUM  MINGS  to   the   Secretary. 

Philadelphia,  Novr   7th  1734. 
Revd  Sir, 

Mr.  Wm  Lindsey,  the  Bearer,  came  over  to  this  country  about  16  months 
ago  well  recommended.  He  is  Master  of  Arts  &  studied  philosophy  &  Di- 
vinity in  the  college  of  Glasgow.  At  his  first  appearance  here  the  presbyte- 
rians  took  notice  of  him  &  would  willingly  have  ordained  him,  but  he  disliked 
their  bigotry,  &c,  &  joined  himself  to  our  church.  As  I  take  him  to  be  very 
well  qualified  I  have  recommended  him  to  the  Bp  of  London  for  Holy  Orders 
&  beg  leave  to  offer  him  to  the  Honble  Society  as  a  person  very  proper  to  fill 
the  vacant  mission  at  Apoquiniminck  for  many  of  the  Presbyterians  settled 
thereabouts  are  his  countrymen  &  acquaintances  and  may  be  brought  over  by 
his  endeavors     *     *     * 


M\  HUGHES  to    the    Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Radnor,  Pensylvania,  Decr  3rd  1734. 
*  *  *  The  greatest  inconveniency  that  we  labour  under  is  the  greatest 
scarcity  of  Welch  books,  myself  being  the  only  person  that  officiates  in  that 
language  my  best  endeavors  can  bear  no  proportion  to  the  general  want  of 
so  many  thousands  of  that  nation  who  are  scattered  in  this  province  &  daily 
importune  me  to  supply  them  with  Welch  books  &  most  of  them  are  both  able 
&  willing  to  purchase  them  &  I  humbly  conceive  that  if  their  expectations 
were  answered  it  would  be  (especially  where  orthodox  ministers  are  wanted), 
the  only  means  to  keep  our  religion  in  its  purity  among  so  many  disadvanta- 
ges.    I  would  rather  be  thought  impertinent  in  troubling  the  Honble  Society 


1 734-]  192 

with  my  sentiments  upon  this  head  than  blame  myself  for  not  endeavoring  at 
so  great  an  act  of  charity  that  may  with  the  blessing  of  God  put  a  stop  to 
those  fatal  consequences  which  by  daily  experience  we  find  to  be  occasioned 
in  a  great  measure  by  the  want  of  good  books.       *      '*       * 


The  Inhabitants  of  Canestogoe,   Pensy/vania,    1734. 


(EXTRACT.) 


May  it  please  the  Hon"'  Society  for  Propogating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts. 
The  petition  of  the  underneath  subscribers  at  Canestogoe: 

Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  we  being  well  affected  to  the  Church  of  England,  tho' destitute  for 
several  years  of  an  orthodox  minister  until  the  coming  of  our  dear  countryman 
Mr.  Hughes  who  hath  undergone  great  hardship  to  come  and  preach  to  us 
once  a  month  to  our  great  comfort  we  are  increased  very  much  in  number 
since  his  coming  and  since  we  can't  as  yet  expect  the  happiness  of  a  mission- 
ary, we  humbly  pray  to  be  supplied  with  some  Welch  Books  the  want  of  which 
has  been  our  greatest  unhappiness.  An  unhappy  experience  of  this  we  have 
had  in  the  number  of  forty  families  that  were  educated  in  the  principles  of  the 
Church  of  England  that  came  in  together  yet  for  the  want  of  good  books  in 
their  own  language  they  at  last  yielded  to  the  general  corruption  of  Quaker- 
ism. Would  the  Hon'ble  Society  be  pleased  to  bestow  on  us  a  Welch  Bible 
&  Common  prayer  for  the  use  of  our  Church  your  petitioners  should  esteem 
it  as  a  great  favor.  At  Mr.  Hughes's  first  arrival  we  had  no  other  conveniency 
then  the  shade  of  any  large  tree  to  preach  under  but  now  we  have  built  a 
handsome  church.  As  for  the  other  Welch  books,  we  are  willing  to  purchase 
them  at  any  reasonable  rate.  We  have  entrusted  the  Revd  Mr.  Hughes  to 
take  the  trouble  upon  him  to  come  over  and  get  us  such  a  quantity  as  will  be 
answerable  to  our  want.  If  this  be  agreeable  to  the  Hon'ble  Society's  pleas- 
ure it  will  be  a  great  encouragement  to  our  pure  doctrine  &  be  a  means  in 
the  hand  of  Providence  to  preserve  many  souls  from  false  doctrine  &  schisms 
which  unhappiness  we  have  too  often  experienced. 


!93  [i735. 

M\  LINDSAY  to  the  SECRETARY. 


Bristol,  Pensilvania, 

November  14th,  1735. 
Most  Revd  &  Worthy  Gentn, 

This  informs  you  of  Mr.  Pugh's  and  my  safe  arrival  in  America  at  Philidel- 
phia  the  28th  day  of  May,  having  sailed  from  the  Downs  the  14th  of  March  and 
had  a  very  dangerous  passage  with  contrary  and  stormy  winds.  Upon  the  8th 
day  of  June  happening  to  be  Sabbath  I  went  directly  for  Bristol  and  produced 
my  Orders  and  Licence  and  your  authority  to  supply  the  Church.  It  had  been 
fifteen  years  and  upwards  destitute  of  a  missionary  and  was  only  supplied  but 
very  seldom  by  Burlington  Ministers  and  their  carelessness  that  way  coming 
over  the  River  dispersed  the  people,  some  to  Presbyterians,  most  to  Quakers, 
and  their  long  stay  and  adherence  among  them,  cooled  them  to  that  persua- 
sion, that  they  formerly  had  been  educated  in,  but  those  that  remained  attached 
to  the  Church's  interest  used  us  very  kindly  and  a  great  many  have  joined  to 
the  Church  and  many  more  are  expected.  v  They  have  made  a  subscription 
according  to  their  abilities  though  very  small ;  but  it  is  hoped  as  the  Church 
fills  it  will  grow  better.  The  people's  inclinations  as  yet  seem  very  good  and 
are  highly  grateful  to  your  Honourable  Board  for  taking  into  consideration 
their  hopeless  and  distressed  circumstances  in  sending  a  Missionary  among 
them  to  reside. 

As  for  Trentown  that  lies  in  the  Jersey  beyond  Delaware  and  lyes  ten 
long  miles  from  Bristol,  I  go  there  every  third  Sabbath  and  oft'ner  in  Summer 
there  are  a  great  many  people  there  but  chiefly  our  Independent  New  England 
Presbyterians  with  which  this  Country  much  abounds  and  they  having  been  so 
long  without  any  Preacher  to  visit  them  that  even  the  best  of  them  are  drawn 
off  to  infidelity.  They  don't  seem  to  make  any  subscription  for  my  pains  and 
troubles  but  must  wait  the  issue  of  time  with  such  people.  I  have  a  very  dan- 
gerous and  long  ferry  to  cross  over  to  that  side  that  puts  me  to  a  great  many 
inconveniences. 

As  for  Amwell  and  Hopewell  I  have  been  there.  It  is  a  wide  scattered 
Country  of  above  20  miles  any  way.  They  have  no  Church  at  either  places 
but  an  old  and  ruinous  building  at  Hopewell.     But  were  a  missionary  fixed 


1735-2  194 

here  it  would  in  time  come  to  a  considerable  congregation  but  my  serving  so 
many  places  can't  allow  me  as  often  as  I  could  wish,  being  forty  seven  miles 
from  Bristol. 

As  for  White  Clay  Creek  and  London  Grove,  I  went  down  that  way  as 
ordered  to  supply  them  but  was  unhappily  in  that  sickly  Country  seized  with  a 
fever  and  ague  that  has  greatly  broke  my  constitution  but  notwithstanding  I 
am  now  on  my  way  going  to  supply  them  a  month  and  White  Clay  Creek  lies 
so  near  New  Castle,  within  7  miles  of  it,  That  London  Grove  seems  to  claim 
most  of  my  services.  I  have  administered  the  Sacrament  in  Bristol  where 
were  16  Communicants.  I  have  baptized  about  10  Children  and  have  preached 
very  often,  upon  week  days,  Upon  the  great  obligations  of  religion  which  I 
have  reason  to  thank  God  has  not  been  without  success,  and  has  brought 
some  to  lay  down  the  dangerous  errors  of  Quakerism.  Thus  from  one  part 
to  another  I  have  the  life  and  lot  of  a  way  faring  man,  and  am  at  great  pains 
to  answer  and  convince  many  of  strange  notions  and  prejudices  that  they  have 
received  and  convinced  many  of  the  Duty  of  Baptism  who  were  never  bap- 
tized nor  would  suffer  any  of  their  Children  to  be  so. 

There  is  a  great  and  crying  want  for  Bibles  and  Prayer  Books.  Many 
would  come  and  hear  divine  Service,  but  know  nothing  of  the  Service  of  our 
Church  which  seems  odd  and  strange  to  them.  About  five  or  six  dozen  of 
Prayer  books  and  four  Dozen  of  Bibles  are  very  much  wanting  and  I  hope 
you'll  send  them  over  by  the  first  occasion,  and  you  would  oblige  some  fam- 
ilies and  people  to  resort  to  the  Churches.  The  people  are  generally  poor 
and  cannot  buy  any.  I  have  faithfully  hitherto  done  my  Duty  and  spared  no 
pains  and  I  shall  make  appeal  to  that  great  Judge  of  all ;  I  have  had  the  peo- 
ple's good  solely  in  my  view  and  I  sincerely  wish  that  the  laudable,  noble  and 
generous  designs  of  the  Honourable  Society  may  long  continue  to  benefit 
these  American  Deserts  with  the  best  of  blessing  (a  Gospel  preached).  Thus 
I  have  given  you  a  short  account  for  the  present  till  farther  and  shall  diligently 
and  exactly  transmit  what  accounts  comes  in  my  way.  I  am  most  Revd  and 
worthy  Gent"  with  my  hearty  and  sincere  thanks  for  your  distinguished  favors 
to  me,  your  most  dutiful  and  Obedient  Missionary  &  humble  Servant,  while 

I  am, 

.      WM  LINDSAY. 


195  [i736. 


To   M'\    H.   NEWMAN ;    Extract    of  a  Letter  from   The 
Reverend  M'\  GIBBS,  at  Bristol,  30^  August,  1735. 


You  may  when  you  see  Dr.  Humphreys  assure  him  that  what  I  give  by 
you  is  entirely  my  own  ;  that  demands  of  this  sort  have  come  so  often  and 
upon  so  many  different  heads  and  occasions  that  people's  Charity  is  very  much 
cooled.  Some  think  that  considering-  how  long  a  time  it  is  since  the  establish- 
ment  of  that  Corporation  above  40  years  ago,  that  the  Colonies  of  America 
having  many  of  them  especially  New  England,  Virginia,  New  York,  Pensilva- 
nia,  &c.,  not  only  increased  exceedingly  in  wealth,  and  numbers  of  people  but 
likewise  having  Schools  and  Colleges  for  educating  of  youth,  they  may  be 
provided  with  Ministers  by  this  time  among  themselves  and  likewise  be  of 
sufficient  abilities  to  support  them  if  they  were  inclined  to  it ;  that  tho'  every 
good  Christian  was  of  Opinion  that  the  sending  of  many  Missionaries  was  highly 
necessary  to  these  parts  at  first  yet  it  ought  in  length  of  time  to  abate  as  the 
people  might  be  more  easily  provided  and  become  more  capable  of  doing 
something  for  themselves. 

When  especially  infidelity  and  irreligion  and  popery  are  making  such 
mighty  progress  here  at  home  in  our  own  Country. 

In  effect  I  know  hardly  any  here  that  are  disposed  to  do  much  for  pro- 
moting or  advancing  religion  or  that  seems  to  be  much  concerned  what 
becomes  of  it  either  abroad  or  at  home. 


M\  PUGH  to  the   Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Appoquiminy,  Feb7  10th,  1736. 
Reverend  Sir, 

At  my  first  entrance  upon  my  mission  I  found  the  minds  of  the  people 
much  debauched  with  loose  and  Atheistical   principles  and  that  to   such  a 


1736.]  196 

degree  as  I  thought  I  had  but  little  room  to  speak  in  their  commendation, 
without  trespassing  against  the  truth,  therefore  I  chose  rather  to  forbear  giv- 
ing you  an  account  of  them,  than  to  set  about  a  talk  that  would  bring  but 
little  satisfaction  either  to  you  or  my  self.  'Tis  true  they  have  been  so  sadly 
deluded  by  bad  men  who  have  done  a  great  deal  of  mischief  not  only  here, 
but  in  all  the  Country  hereabout  by  promoting  infidelity  and  prophaneness,  yet 
I  have  the  satisfaction,  to  find  it  not  so  bad  by  much,  as  I  at  first  imagined  and 
I  hope  I  shall  be  able  hereafter  to  give  you  a  satisfactory  account  of  the  Pro- 
gress I  shall  make  in  my  mission. 

I  preach  two  Sundays  at  Appoquiminy  and  one  at  Sl  George's,  a  Chapel 
of  ease  to  the  Chapel,  about  1 2  miles  from  it  and  have  a  pretty  large  congre- 
gation at  both  places,  but  the  latter  is  much  superior  to  the  other  in  number. 
Both  seems  likely  to  increase,  Dissenters  of  all  persuasions  flocking  in,  in  vast 
numbers  to  Divine  Service,  some  of  which  I  have  already  brought  to  our  Com- 
munion and  am  in  hopes  of  giving  some  further  account  of  my  success  that  way. 

I  have  baptized  a  great  number  of  Children,  some  Adults,  and  2  or  3 
Negroes'  Children,  but  our  Clerk  who  kept  the  Register  being  lately  gone 
from  us,  I  cannot  give  any  particular  account  of  the  number.  I  must  confess 
I  do  not  expect  to  baptize  many  Negroes  for  their  masters  are  generally  so 
much  prejudiced  against  their  being  made  Christians,  that  it  seems  past  my 
skill  to  work  any  good  with  them.  The  people's  subscriptions  for  both  places 
is  Forty  five  Pounds  Currency  which  I  should  call  a  handsome  subscription  if 
it  were  well  paid  but  I  am  sorry  I  am  forced  to  complain  tho'  that  this  sum 
doth  not  amount  to  quite  40s  to  those  that  subscribe  most,  and  to  others  but 
about  30  or  20,  15,  or  10,  yet  I  cannot  but  get  very  little  from  them  and  what 
little  I  receive  comes  so  slow  and  in  such  small  sums,  that  I  am  scarce  sensi- 
ble of  the  benefit  of  it.  I  have  often  told  them  myself  and  by  the  person  that 
collects  my  moneys  that  I  would  complain  to  the  Society  but  they  seem  to  take 
but  little  notice  of  it.  All  the  answer  I  have  had,  is  by  my  Collector  that  the 
Society  allows  a  very  sufficient  maintenance,  therefore  they  need  not  be  at  any 
expences.  What  method  to  take  to  right  myself  I  know  not.  All  the  smooth 
means  I  could  use  have  been  ineffectual,  and  compulsive  means  I  altogether 
disapprove  of  as  destructive  of  that  harmony  and  agreement  which  at  present 
exists  between  us  in  all  other  respects.  Therefore,  Sir,  I  desire  you  if  you 
think  proper  to  represent  my  Case  to  the  Society  with  my  humble  request  that 
they  would  take  it  into  consideration  and  use  such  a  method  as  they  shall  think 
proper  for  my  redress.     *     *     * 


197  [i736- 

Mr.  LINDSAY  to  the  LORD  BISHOP  of  LONDON. 


Bristol,  upon  Delaware,  in 

Pensilvania,  March  Ist,  1736. 
My  Lord, 

I  humbly  crave  your  Lordship's  pardon  for  being  so  bold  as  to  write  to 
you,  but  necessity  makes  use  of  no  ceremonies,  and  I  hope  your  goodness 
will  forgive  the  forwardness  of  your  poor  Missionary.  I  have  wrote  to  the 
Honourable  Society  a  Letter  relating  to  the  state  of  my  itenerant  mission,  and 
the  exceeding  great  hardships  I  have  undergone  in  that  weighty  charge 
together  with  my  success  and  withall  have  represented  the  necessities  and 
difficulties  I  laboured  under.  The  distance  from  extreme  parts  of  my  mission 
to  the  other  is  above  One  hundred  miles,  besides  the  great  River  Delaware  I 
have  to  cross,  that  is  oftentimes  very  hazardous  in  the  Winter.  My  people 
that  I  serve  are  very  wild,  a  mixture  of  all  sorts  (though  they  come  regularly 
out  to  Church),  and  as  for  contributing  any  thing,  many  of  them  has  not  done 
and  I  must  wait  patiently  the  issue.  My  circumstances  are  exceeding  low  in 
the  world.  My  expences  in  travelling  so  often  as  almost  every  week,  cloath- 
ing,  lodging,  and  horse  and  forrages  are  exceeding  dear  to  me.  That  your 
necessity  obliges  me  to  address  your  Lordship  for  your  friendship  at  the  Hon- 
ourable Board.  Your  compassionate  consideration  of  my  circumstances  when 
I  was  in  London  in  the  year  1 734  encourages  me  to  address  you.  The  worthy 
fame  you  bear  in  the  British  Dominion  does  likewise  encourage  me  to  make 
known  my  present  necessities.  I  dare  not  say  further,  but  humbly  beg  your 
Lordship's  pardon  for  this  assurance  in  writing  as  'tis  the  first  time  and  wishing 
your  Lordship  long  continuance  over  these  Desert  parts  and  the  Divine  pres- 
ence ever  along  with  you,  I  am,  with  the  most  profound  humility  and  respect, 
your  Lordship's  most 

humble  most  Obedient  &  Dutiful  Serv', 

WM  LINDSAY. 


1736.]  198 

M\  LANGHORNE  to   the  BISHOP  of  LONDON. 

May  the  28th,   1 736. 
My  Lord, 

I  received  Yours  of  July  31  last  for  which  I  return  You  hearty  thanks  and 
am  glad  to  hear  of  Your  and  Your  Family's  Health.  Your  Lordship  will  receive 
a  Letter  from  Mr.  Archibauld  dimming  in  favor  of  Mr.  Richard  Peters  to  be 
assistant  in  the  Church  of  Philadelphia.  He  came  over  the  Beginning  of  last 
7ber,  and  at  Mr.  Cumming's  request  has  assisted  him  ever  since  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  both  of  him  and  the  Congregation :  and  by  his  abilities  and  con- 
duct he  is  capable  of  giving  Your  Church  a  reputation  which  it  has  wanted  in 
these  parts  by  a  bad  Ministry:  He  is  a  Lancashire  Man,  the  Son  of  Mr. 
Ralph  Peters  Town  Clerke  of  Liverpool  who  for  the  sake  of  a  Good  Educa- 
tion, sent  him  very  Young  to  Westminster  School  which  he  went  through  be- 
fore he  was  fifteen  :  and  he  had  particular  favors  shewn  him  by  Doctor  Froude. 
Here  it  was  that  he  was  deluded  by  a  Servant  maid  where  he  Lodged  into  a 
fleet  Marriage.  His  Parents  hearing  of  it  altered  their  mind  as  to  the  remain- 
ing  part  of  his  Education,  and  instead  of  sending  him  to  Oxford  removed  him 
to  Leyden  where  he  was  three  Years  :  and  upon  his  return  was  Put  to  study 
the  Law  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Rootle  of  the  Inner  Temple  by  the  command 
of  his  Father  against  his  will  for  he  was  always  inclined  to  go  into  Orders. 
He  was  five  Years  in  the  Inner  Temple  and  tho'  capable  of  Practising  the  Law 
to  great  advantage,  Yet  his  Religious  turn  of  mind  encreasing,  His  Father 
was  Prevailed  upon  to  let  him  take  orders  which  was  conferr'd  upon  him  by 
the  late  Bishop  of  Winchester  in  the  Year  1 730  to  be  Deacon,  and  the  Year 
following  at  Chelsea  to  be  Priest.  Some  little  time  after  Mr.  Rootle  Collated 
him  to  Latham  Chapel  a  Donative  in  the  Parish  of  Orinskirk,  in  the  County  of 
Lancaster  and  diocese  of  Chester,  in  which  neighborhood  he  has  lived  ever 
since,  and  was  there  taken  notice  of  by  the  late  Earl  of  Derby  and  entrusted 
with  the  education  of  two  of  his  Relations,  and  lived  with  his  Lordship  in  his 
Palace  of  Knowsley  till  the  first  of  July  last.  During  all  this  time  knowing  in 
what  a  base  manner  he  was  tricked  by  the  Woman,  he  never  cohabited  with 
her  nor  gave  himself  any  trouble  about  her  and  about  three  Years  ago  upon 
his  return  from  Leyden  where  he  had  been  to  place  the  two  Young  Gentle- 


199  [i736. 

men,  My  Lord's  Relations,  he  was  congratulated  by  all  his  Friends  in  a  Pub- 
lic manner  for  his  deliverance  from  the  Woman  who  they  told  him  had  Died 
while  he  was  in  Holland  and  her  Death  came  confirmed  afterwards  by  Several 
Letters  from  his  friends  in  London.  Taking  himself  and  being  taken  by  the 
whole  neighborhood  to  be  at  full  Liberty,  he  made  his  Public  addresses  to 
Miss  Stanley,  sister  to  the  two  Young  Gentlemen  whom  he  had  placed  in 
Leyden  and  Married  her  Christmas  was  twelve  months.  In  June  Last  it  was 
discovered  that  the  Woman  was  alive  upon  which  he  Voluntarily  with  the 
consent  of  his  Wife  came  over  here  where  as  I  said  he  has  assisted  Mr.  Cum- 
ming  in  the  Church  of  Philadelphia  and  to  my  certain  knowledge  he  has  given 
the  greatest  Satisfaction  to  the  people  of  any  Clergyman  that  has  ever  been 
here.  Now,  Sir,  as  it  is  the  desire  of  Mr.  Cumming,  I  hope  You'l  not  have 
any  thing  to  object  against  giving  him  Your  Licence  and  also  using  Your  In- 
terest with  the  Society  in  order  to  procure  some  small  allowance  towards  a 
subsistance  for  him  which  I  believe  You'l  never  have  any  reason  to  repent, 
for  I  am  Persuaded  he  is  Man  of  much  merit,  and  I  have  been  a  great  deal  in 
his  Company  I  can  assure  You  that  he  is  the  worthiest  Clergyman  that  I  have 
known  and  is  firmly  attached  to  his  present  Majesty  and  Government  which 
is  a  qualification  many  of  the  Clergy  who  come  over  here  have  wanted. 

My  Lord,  You  are  very  sensible  I  have  never  hitherto  been  troublesome 
to  you  in  making  Solicitations  for  any  Person.  But  from  the  regard  I  have 
for  Mr.  Peters  and  the  Encouragement  that  You  have  been  pleased  to  give 
by  offers  of  Your  good  will  I  now  take  the  freedom,  to  request  Your  favor  and 
friendship  in  his  behalf  which  will  confer  a  great  obligation  on  me,  and  be  al- 
ways acknowledged  with  gratitude  by, 

Your  Lordship's  most  Affectionate  Kinsman, 

&  Very  Humble  Servant, 

JER:  LANGHORNE. 


1 739.]  200 

M\    CUM  MINGS  to  the  LORD  BISHOP  of 

LONDON. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Philidelphia,  Mar:  30,  1738. 
P.S.  We  have  no  Governor  among  as  yet.  Col1  Thomas  it  seems  finds  it 
difficult  to  obtain  the  Royal  approbation,  on  account  of  some  complaints  laid 
by  Baltimore  against  us  before  the  King  and  Council.  It  would  be  an  advan- 
tage to  the  Crown  and  the  Inhabitants  of  these  parts  too,  were  our  Gover' 
more  immediately  under  its  Jurisdiction.  In  case  of  a  War  his  Majesty's 
Subjects  here  are  in  a  dangerous  Situation,  we  not  having  so  much  as  the 
Shadow  of  a  Militia,  nor  any  ordinary  means  of  Defence.  In  Queen  Anne's 
reign  there  was  an  Agreement  made  with  Penn,  the  first  Proprietor,  which 
obliges  his  successors  to  surrender  up  the  Gover1  upon  the  Payment  of  8  or 
,£9000.  Till  that  be  done  the  Church  of  England  will  meet  with  little  solid 
Encouragement  in  this  province. 


M".  HOWIE  to  the    Society. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Oxford  in  Pensylvania,  July  2nd  1 739. 
May  it  please  the  Honorable  Society, 

*  *  Those  who  profess  themselves  of  the  Church  of  England  do 
not  exceed  30  in  number  and  one  third  of  these  are  not  subscribers.  Dissen- 
ters are  very  numerous  especially  Quakers  &  anabaptists;  there  are  some 
Presbyterians,  but  very  few  Baptists. 

As  for  heathens  and  Infidels  I  know  not  any  professed  ones,  tho'  I  must 
own  with  grief,  that  there  are  some  who  frequent  no  place  of  worship,  but 


201  [1738. 

seem  to  be  leavened  with  the  fashionable  principles  of  our  day  &  age  which 
border  pretty  near  infidelity,  but  what  can  we  say :  for  also  when  the  plague 
is  begun  in  the  city,  the  injection  will  soon  get  into  the  country,  or  what  can 
we  do, — our  People  here  think  themselves  under  a  necessity  to  conform  their 
principles  to  the  humour  of  those  who  are  capable  of  hurting  them. 

I  have  long  since  given  over  officiating  at  White  marsh  for  the  reasons  I 
formerly  offered  to  the  society,  tho'  the  people  here  in  a  general  way,  live  in 
as  great  plenty  as  the  farmers  in  England,  yet  so  close  and  covetous  are  they, 
that  many  of  them  have  the  assurance  to  say,  that  the  society's  missionaries, 
are  obliged  to  serve  them,  tho'  they  should  not  give  a  farthing.      *      *       * 


Mr.   PUGH  to  the  Secretary. 


Apoquiniminck,  Nov.  28,  1738. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  And  here  sir  I  must  acquaint  you  with  a  difficulty  which  often 
falls  in  my  way,  in  relation  to  Baptisms.  The  people  object  very  much 
against  sureties  and  press  me  very  earnestly  upon  every  occasion  notwith- 
standing all  I  can  say  to  them,  to  admit  their  children  to  Baptism  without 
them.  They  seem  very  ill  to  resent  my  non  compliance  with  their  humor  &  I 
believe  that  some  have  gone  to  the  Presbyterians  for  baptism  upon  this  ac- 
count which  otherwise  would  have  come  to  me.  Whether  at  all  or  how  far  I 
may  comply  in  this  case  I  can't  determine  with  myself,  therefore  I  desire  to  be 
advised  as  soon  as  you  shall  see  fit.         *         *         * 


1738.]  202 

Mr.   PUGH  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 


*  The  contributions  promised  by  the  people  at  my  first  coming 
amongst  them  was  45  annuatim.  Their  obligation  for  performance,  I  could 
never  get  (except  of  some  few);  their  plea  was  that  it  was  very  unreasonable 
they  should  put  themselves  under  obligation  perpetually  to  me,  since  they 
were  uncertain  whether  they  might  continue  in  communion  with  the  Church 
of  England,  but  they  have  since  convinced  me  of  the  true  reason,  why  they 
refused,  by  neglect   of   Payment,   while   they  continued  in   our  communion. 


Mr.    BACKHOUSE    to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Chester,  Decr  9,  1 738. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  *  *  As  to  the  number  of  Inhabitants  and  of  those  who  profess 
themselves  of  the  church  of  England,  'tis  impossible  for  me  to  give  any  just 
account.  Because  my  congregation  is  scattered  here  and  there  for  near  20 
miles  back  in  the  county  and  also  being  within  4  miles  of  Newcastle  county. 
A  many  more  families  than  I  can  easily  reckon  up  live  there  who  are  and  al- 
ways have  been  Reputed  members  of  Chester  church.  The  Dissenters  down 
by  the  River  side  are  chiefly  quakers  and  very  much  exceed  the  church  people 
in  number,  but  the  Dissenters  back  at  Pequea  are  generally  Presbyterians.  I 
know  but  4  or  5  families  of  Papists  in  all  my  circuit ;  tho'  there  are  many  re- 
puted ones  in  the  quakers'  Garb  &  Frequent  their  meetings.      *  * 


2°3  [i740. 

M\   CUM  MINGS  to  the    Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadia  Aug1  29,  1740. 
Revd  dear  Sir, 

The  Bishop's  commissary  (Mr.  Garden),  in  S°.  Carolina  has 
lately  prosecuted  the  Famous  Mr.  Wh — d  there  upon  the  38th  cannon  ;  but  he 
has  appealed  home.  I  hope  the  Society  will  use  their  interest  to  have  justice 
done  him.  His  character  as  a  clergyman  enables  him  to  do  the  greatest  mis- 
chief. He  thereby  fights  against  the  church  under  her  colours,  &  Judas  like 
betrays  her  under  pretence  of  friendship,  for  which  reason  the  Dissenters  are 
exceeding  fond  of  him,  cry  him  up  for  an  oracle  &  pray  publicly  for  his  suc- 
cess, that  he  may  go  on  conquering  &  to  conquer  &  in  return  he  warmly  ex- 
horts his  proselytes  from  the  church  to  follow  them  as  the  only  preachers  of 
true  sound  doctrine.  I  have  sent  you  a  copy  of  my  sermons  which  I 
mentioned  in  my  last  &  refer  you  to  the  preface  for  a  brief  account  of  his 
hopeful  doctrines  and  malicious  railings  against  the  clergy.  I  am  fully  per- 
suaded he  designs  to  set  up  for  the  head  of  a  sect,  and  doubt  not  but  that  he 
is  supported  under  hand  by  deists  &  Jesuits  or  both.  He  and  his  companion, 
Mr.  Seward,  have  purchased  5000  acres  of  land,  about  60  miles  distant  hence, 
and  numbers  of  all  denominations  have  raised  large  collections  for  him  and 
are  now  actually  building  a  spacious  structure  for  him  or  his  friends,  the  Wes- 
leys,  to  hold  forth  in.  Yours,  &c, 

ARCH.  CUMMING. 


1 740.]  204 

From   M\   ROSS  to  the    Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Newcastle,  Aug1  1,  1740. 
Revd  Sir, 

Your  agreeable  letter  of  the  11th  of  March  last  came  safe  to  my  hands, 
and  very  opportunely  too,  when  our  northern  Levies  began  to  be  carried  on 
for  prosecuting  the  Intended  expedition  against  the  Spanish  west  Indies.  I 
say  opportunely  because  your  letter  prov'd  the  happy  means  of  preventing  my 
son  from  engaging  in  this  hazardous  attempt.  His  patience  was  quite  spent, 
and  he  was  resolv'd  to  push  his  fortune  by  the  sword  since  he  saw  no  probabil- 
ity of  coming  at  the  Gown  by  his  frequent  application.  He  is  now  making 
ready  for  his  voyage  and  would  have  cross'd  the  seas  in  the  ship  by  which  I 
send  you  this,  had  we  timely  notice  of  her  altering  her  first  intended  course. 
In  the  mean  time  if  a  vacancy  happens,  you'll  remember  him.  I  hope  that  his 
stay  at  London  may  not  be  long  or  prove  too  heavy  for  me. 

The  Church  here  enjoys  a  profound  Calm,  after  being  threatened  with  a 
meer  tempest  of  Enthusiasm.  We  felt  this  storm  in  this  village  in  its  decline 
when  its  fury  was  almost  spent.  I  was  never  so  much  astonished,  as  when  I 
saw  the  fluctuating  humor  of  our  people,  The  sea  roared  indeed  &  the  waves 
rose  so  exceeding  high  that  to  face  them  was  present  shipwreck.  I  stood 
amazed  and  dreaded  the  consequences  of  so  unexpected  a  shock,  but  he  that 
thus  stirred  up  the  people  and  inflamed  them  against  the  missionaries  with 
the  most  approbrious  language,  I  mean  the  mischevous  Mr.  Whitfield,  lost 
himself  and  ruined  his  credit  with  thinking  people  by  his  malicious  letters 
against  archbishop  Tillotson  &  by  his  weak  but  ill  natured  attack,  upon 
the  author  of  the  Whole  Duty  of  Man.  The  storm  is  not  quite  allayed  at 
Philadelphia  where  I  bore  my  testimony  in  a  sermon  I  preached  against  the 
proceedings  of  this  indefatigable  imposter  in  Gown  and  cassock.  When  he 
could  or  would  not  stay,  any  longer  in  these  quarters,  he  deputed  2  or  3  Fiery 
Presbyterians  to  pursue  his  game,  whose  assiduity  terminated  at  last  in  dis- 
traction in  some,  in  chains  in  others,  despair  in  some,  in  extremo  articulo,  and 
laying  violent  hands  on  themselves  in  others.     These  were  some  of  the  sad 


205  [1740. 

effects  of  what  the  party  call  convictions ;  but  in  Truth  diabolical  possessions. 
The  main  incendiary  'tis  expected  will  return  again  into  these  parts  'ere  long: 
but  his  principles,  pride  and  spite,  are  so  fully  discovered,  and  particularly  his 
amassing  such  vast  sums  &  therewith  supporting  a  company  of  young  fellows 
and  gadding  young  women  who  follow  him  to  Georgia,  instead  of  applying 
the  charities  for  his  little  orphan  house,  to  their  proper  end,  has  given  so  gen- 
eral an  offence,  that  I  am  persuaded  his  conduct  in  this  point  will  sink  his  cred- 
it, as  fast  as  his  plausible  talent  of  harangueing  the  Populace  has  raised  him 
in  the  opinion  of  the  Giddy  multitude.  Some  in  my  congregation  became 
unsettled  among  others  in  running  and  flocking  after  our  new  Preacher,  so 
that  when  the  Sacrament  was  celebrated  here  in  those  hurrying  days,  I  had 
not  above  half  of  my  usual  number  of  communicants,  but,  thanks  be  to  God, 
the  snare  wherein  they  were  catched  is  broken  and  they  are  happily  delivered 
and  now  we  live  in  peace  and  love.     *         *         * 


M\   ROSS  to  the  Secretary, 


(EXTRACT.) 

Newcastle,  Sepr  i,  1740. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  take  this  opportunity  to  acquaint  you  that  Sunday  last 
one  of  my  Parishioners  brought  9  of  his  children  to  church  in  order  to  receive 
Christian  Baptism.  7  of  them  the  youngest  of  whom  about  1 2  years  old  gave 
an  open,  clear  and  distinct  account  of  our  catechism  to  the  great  satisfaction 
of  the  whole  congregation.  Whether  the  7  are  to  be  ranked  in  the  number 
of  adults  I  shall  not  take  upon  me  to  determine ;  but  baptized  they  were  in 
due  form  and  order  together  with  their  2  Brothers  who  answered  by  their 
sponsors.  The  Father  of  this  pretty  young  family,  labor'd  for  some  years  un- 
der some  scruples  about  the  institution  of  Baptism.  His  misfortune  was  as 
to  this  particular,  that  his  wife  was  a  Quaker  &  her  Quaker  relations  plyed  him 
close  with  their  heretical  books ;  especially  Robert  Barclay's  Apology ;  the 


1 740.]  206 

Glory  and  Alcoran  of  Friends.  'Tis  a  pity  it  escapes  so  long  a  clear  and  full 
confutation,  and  I  beg  leave  to  say  that  some  of  our  acutest  pens,  have  been 
worse  employed,  than  in  taking  that  hurtful  Book  to  pieces.  Smith's  Preser- 
vative, &c,  was  of  use  to  me  in  gaining  the  family  I  spake  of  &  if  that  gen- 
tleman is  alive,  I  hereby  tender  him  my  thanks  for  his  endeavours  to  pull 
down,  this  strong  hold  of  Satan,  Viz :  Barclay's  Works.         *         * 


M\   BACKHOUSE  to    the  Secretary. 

(EXTRACT.) 


Chester,  Aug'  23,  1740. 
Revd  Sir, 

That  Great  Enthusiast  (to  say  no  worse  of  him),  Mr. 
Whitfield  has  preached  twice  at  our  Town.  But  most  of  those  belonging  to 
my  congregations,  are  far  from  entertaining  even  a  common  good  opinion  of 
him.  So  that  while  others,  especially  the  Presbyterians,  are  by  his  means  car- 
ried to  the  wildest  extravagancies,  the  people  peacefully  follow  the  lines  of 
their  duty,  without  being  moved  in  the  least,  from  their  own  steadfastness. 
The  number  of  Baptized  this  year,  are  38  infants  &  1  adult  person,  a  Gentle- 
woman above  40  years  old.  As  also  4  adult  negroes  and  2  negro  children. 
The  number  of  communicants  are  increased  having-  now  about  60,  but  as  to 
the  number  of  inhabitants  or  of  those  who  profess  themselves  of  the  church 
of  England,  I  cannot  possibly  make  an  estimate  till  I  have  an  opportunity  to 
look  into  the  Books  where  every  householder  is  taxed,  which  I  could  not  yet 
do,  tho'  I  have  oftentimes  applied  for  it.  There  are  a  great  many  more  Pa- 
pists than  I  formerly  imagined  finding  about  10  families  in  the  very  heart  of 
my  parish.  We  have  scattered  among  us  a  great  number  of  Heathenish  Peo- 
ple and  Infidels  who  live  as  without  God  in  the  world.  But  those  who  duly 
frequent  our  churches  are  in  general  very  orderly  livers  especially  those  that 
are  communicants  endeavour  after  a  life  of  Christian  Purity. 


207  [i74°- 

M".    HOWIE  to  the   Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Oxford  in  Pensylvania,  July  1 7,  1 740. 
May  it  please  the  Honorable  Society, 

The  number  of  heads  of  families  in  Oxford  is  49.  I  have 
baptized  since  last  Easter  was  a  year  20  children  and  3  adults.  Last  Christ- 
mas 18  Received  the  Sacrament;  at  Easter  21  ;  and  on  Whitsunday  only  16, 
the  smallness  of  which  last  number  is  entirely  owing  to  the  Pernicious  doc- 
trine and  Printed  Libels  of  Mr.  Whitfield  against  the  whole  body  of  the  cler- 
gy. Those  who  Profess  themselves  of  the  church  of  England  do  not  exceed 
at  present  1 5  in  number  and  not  one  half  of  these  are  subscribers.  Dissent- 
ers are  very  numerous  especially  Quakers  and  Anabaptists,  a  great  many 
Whitfieldians  but  very  few  papists.  There  are  here  such  a  prodigious  num- 
ber of  Sectaries,  that  the  church  of  England  is  like  a  small  twig,  growing  un- 
der the  spreading  boughs  of  a  mighty  tree.  As  for  heathens  and  Infidels  I 
know  not  of  any  profess'd  ones.  Mr.  Whitfield  has  been  twice  in  this  Prov- 
ince, preaching  in  fields  and  commons,  and  has  done  a  great  deal  of  harm, 
and  undoubtedly  will  ruin  the  Missions  in  this  Quaker  Government,  if  special 
authority  from  home  does  not  interpose  &  put  a  stop  to  his  mad  career.  He 
has  printed  in  the  public  newspaper  vile  libels,  against  the  great  and  good  Pre- 
late Archbishop  Tillotson,  and  another  against  that  excellent  Book  the  Whole 
Duty  of  Man,  and  desired  a  great  auditory  to  burn  it,  telling  them  he  would 
burn  as  many  as  came  to  his  hand.  Many  serious  people  were  shock'd  with 
his  antichristian  order,  and  others  have  been  so  enthusiastically  mad  as  to 
obey  it  imagining,  they  could  never  be  saved  unless  they  did  what  he  com-, 
manded  them,  and  so  have  made  that  wicked  action  the  ground  of  their  savla- 
tion  which  should  be  the  object  of  their  repentance.  He  has  warmly  ad- 
monished his  hearers,  to  frequent  in  his  absence  the  Presbyterian  and  anabap- 
tist meetings.  He  has  violently  exclaimed  (like  a  true  fanatic),  against  the 
Body  of  the  Bishops  and  Clergy  of  England,  as  no  Preachers  of  Jesus  Christ, 
but  as  Sorcerers,  Simon  Magnus's,  with  a  great  deal  more  of  the  same  stuff, 
which  tho'  false  and  unchristian,  are  yet  swallow'd  by  our  ignorant,  giddy  peo- 


174°-]  2o8 

pie  without  chawing.  I  could  fill  many  sheets  of  Paper  with  his  public  reflec- 
tions, unchristian  conduct  &  false  pernicious  doctrine,  but  shall  not  trouble 
you  any  further  than  by  observing  that  infidels  and  Deists  (those  implacable 
enemies  to  the  prosperity  of  our  Zion),  seem  strongly  inclined  to  favor  his 
cause  and  what  they  could  not  bring  about  by  their  writings  here  they  now 
strive  to  effect  by  giving  a  helping  hand  to  spread  the  growing  enthusiasm. 

I  have  once  in  three  weeks  for  a  year  by  past  gone  over  the  Delaware  and 
preached  to  a  congregation  of  People  &  was  in  fair  hopes  they  would  have 
built  a  church,  had  not  this  accuser  of  the  Brethren  come  among  us.  It  is 
amazing  to  see  how  fond  the  common  people  here  are  of  novelties  in  religion  ; 
how  easily  they  become  a  prey  to  seducers.  I  have  observed  that  those  who 
are  most  bigotted  to  this  new  Preacher,  have  not  as  yet  reformed  their  lives 
and  conversations.  The  Dividing  principles  of  Party  Prejudice  and  ill  nature 
Prevail  so  much  among  the  angry  deluded  followers,  that  those  who  have  no 
favorable  opinion  of  his  mischevous  tenets  are  called  reprobates  by  them,  and 
pronounced  Damn'd,  by  himself.  I  have  lately  undeceived  some  of  my  poor 
misled  people,  by  Public  discourses  and  many  exhortations  from  the  Pulpit ; 
by  riding  from  house  to  house  to  resolve  their  doubts,  and  by  shewing  them 
the  dangerous  depths  of  this  Preacher's  doctrine,  more  especially  with  respect 
to  his  notions  of  no-gospel  covenant,  and  his  preaching  up  a  bold  faith  in 
Christ,  but  at  the  same  time  debasing  of  morality  and  good  works. 

I  have  nothing  now  to  add,  but  that  in  behalf  of  the  afflicted  Church  here, 
the  civil  and  religious  government  at  home  would  be  pleased  in  their  great 
goodness  to  give  a  check  to  our  growing  confusions.         *         *         * 


Mr.   CURRIE  to   the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Radnor,  July  7,  1740. 
Revd  Sir, 

Whitfield  has  lately  spent  among  us  to  rob  us  of  our 
characters  &  then  of  our  hearers.     Their  wonder  would  immediately  cease. 


209  [i  740. 

This  strolling  preacher,  what  by  a  musical  voice,  by  an  agreable  delivery,  a 
Brazen  Forehead,  Impertinent  asseverations,  uncharitable  assertions,  &  impi- 
ous imprecations  upon  himself  if  what  he  says  be  not  true,  has  raised  such  a 
confusion  among  the  people  of  this  province  as  I  believe  will  not  be  laid  in 
haste  &  (which  I  am  most  troubled  about)  has  made  a  very  great  rent  in  all 
the  congregations  belonging  to  the  church  of  England.  The  generality  of  my 
hearers  not  only  run  after,  but  adore  him  as  an  oracle  from  heaven.  They 
look  upon  all  he  says  to  be,  the  immediate  dictates  of  the  holy  Ghost,  only 
because  he  confidently  asserts  it  to  be  so,  and  imprecates  the  most  dreadful 
curses  upon  himself  if  what  he  says  be  not  true.  There  is  a  very  large  church 
a  building  for  him  in  the  city,  towards  which  all  sorts  of  people  have  contribu- 
ted. This  deceiver  pretends  to  be  the  only  true  minister  of  the  church  of 
England  now  in  all  America  &  yet  he  has  a  criminal  regard  for  all  those  who 
have  ever  been  the  avowed  enemies  of  the  church  of  England  .When  he 
left  this  Province  last,  he  conjured  all  his  hearers,  especially  those  of  the 
church  of  England,  to  leave  their  own  teachers  because  their  doctrine  was 
damnable,  and  cleave  to  his  Dear  Brother  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennant  and  his  breth- 
ren as  the  only  true  gospel  preachers  in  the  whole  country.  Now  this  Gilbert 
Tennant  has  ever  been  look'd  upon  even  by  the  discreeter  part  of  his  own 
society,  as  a  kind  of  a  mad  man  &  generally  went  by  the  name  Hell  Fire  Ten- 
nant, however  since  he  was  recommended  by  Whitfield  he  is  followed  by  all 
sorts  of  People  &  is  now  in  as  great  repute  as  his  master,  his  whole  endeavor 
is  to  preach  men  out  of  their  reason,  in  which  he  has  been  pretty  successful, 
for  there  are  several  people  now  raving  mad  which  was  entirely  occasioned 
by  the  damnatory  sentences  pronounced  against  them  by  this  mad  enthusiast 
and  some  of  his  crazed  brethren.  This  short  acccount  of  the  state  of  our 
affairs  at  present  is  from 

Revd  Sir, 

Your  humble  Servant, 

W.  CURRIE. 

27 


i74°-]  2I° 

M".    CUM  MINGS    to    the    Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Pensylvania,  Nov.  14,  1739. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  About  the  beginning  of  this  month  arrived  here  the  fa- 

mous Mr.  Whitfield.  I  was  under  a  necessity  to  allow  him  my  pulpit  so  anx- 
ious were  our  people  to  hear  him,  but  that  did  not  satisfy  him.  He  preached 
evry  evening  in  our  streets  to  vast  multitudes  of  all  sects.  He  went  yester- 
day hence  to  New  York  but  returns  again  next  week  and  designs  to  go  along 
the  continent  on  his  way  to  Georgia.  His  doctrine  turns  mostly  on  the  anti- 
nomian  scheme,  and  railing  against  the  regular  clergy.  In  his  conversation  I 
could  perceive  very  little  of  the  scholar  or  gentleman.  I  really  think  he  is 
enthusiastically  mad,  &c. 

Mr.  Whitfield  talks  of  returning  to  England  next  Summer.  I'm  afraid  he 
will  do  mischief  in  these  parts  but  much  more  in  old  England  if  he  be  not  re- 
strained.        *         *         * 


M\   CUM  MINGS  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philad'a  July  31,  1740. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  Last  fall  my  correspondent  sent  me  a  copy  of  the  bish- 

op of  London's  pastoral  letter  in  opposition  to  Whitfield's  enthusiastic  reve- 
ries. As  soon  as  I  perceived  the  danger  of  their  spreading  among  the  un- 
thinking tho'  well  meaning  crowd  I  had  a  number  of  them  reprinted  here  and 
dispersed,  but  notwithstanding  that  and  what  else  I  could  do,  great  numbers 
implicitly  believed  ev'ry  thing  he  said  as  proceeding  from  immediate  inspira- 


21  I 


[l740. 


tion,  and  upon  his  return  to  this  place  in  April  last  he  fell  foul  on  Archp  Tillot- 
son's  works  and  the  Whole  Duty  of  Man  both  in  print  and  in  his  field  preach- 
ings ;  at  the  same  time  accusing  the  Bishop  of  London  and  the  present  clergy 
of  Hypocrisy  and  false  doctrine,  calling  them,  Doctrinal  Papists  &c.  For 
those  and  other  reasons,  I  having  denied  him  the  use  of  our  church,  became 
the  object  of  his  rash  resentment.  He  publicly  accused  me  of  maintaining 
the  sufficiency  of  Historical  faith  and  preaching  up  justification  by  works  only. 
I  have  since  published  the  sermons  which  he  heard  and  thus  misrepresented 
and  in  a  preface  to  them  given  some  account  of  their  irrational  and  unscriptu- 
ral  doctrine,  and  false  censures  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  sensible  part  of  man- 
kind among  us,  but  here  and  in  most  other  places  the  greater  numbers  are 
led  by  their  passions.  Some  have  at  his  instigation  forsaken  the  church  and 
joined  themselves  to  dissenting  congregations.  Others  threaten  to  follow 
them  and  several  have  refused  to  contribute  to  my  subsistence  which  was  bare 
and  precarious  before.  Some  years  ago  I  had  begged  to  remove  from  this 
place  with  our  diocesan's  consent ;  but  at  his  desire  because  they  were  then  in 
confusion  on  much  a  like  occasion,  I  continued  among  them  hitherto  but  I  find 
it  morally  impossible  for  any  clergyman  to  stay  long  among  a  people  where 
there  is  no  establishment  &  where  he  must  depend  entirely  upon  their  caprice 
and  Humors.  As  to  that  silly  story  which  you  tell  me  Mr.  W — d  wrote 
against  Mr.  Arnold,  'tis  true  his  giddy  admirers  made  a  noise  with  it  here  but 
without  any  just  grounds  for  Mr.  Arnold  the  night  before  he  left  this  place 
asked  me  to  lend  him  5  ;  I  told  him  I  could  not  tell  if  I  had  so  much  at  that 
time  in  the  house  but  desired  him  to  Breakfast  with  me  next  morning  and  I 
could  give  him  an  answer,  but  he  was  obliged  it  seems  to  set  out  very  early 
and  having  borrowed  the  money  of  Owen  Owen,  gave  him  a  letter  to  me  de- 
siring I  would  pay  him  that  sum,  and  promising  to  remit  it  in  a  little  time  from 
N.  York.  When  Owen  came  demanding  his  money  that  morning  after  ask- 
ing him  a  few  questions,  I  found  tho'  I  promised  to  see  him  paid  he  was  ready, 
and  I  doubt  not  instigated  by  W — d's  votaries  to  follow  after  &  arrest  Mr. 
Arnold,  because  he  had  dared  to  contradict  their  oracle.  I  therefore  directly 
paid  him  the  money  and  soon  after  Mr.  Arnold  very  honestly — and  without 
my  asking  sent  me  payment  of  it  from  N.  York  on  the  25th.       *       *       * 


1 739-]  2I2 

M\  WHITFIELD  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  Nov  27,  1739. 
Revd  Sir, 

A  concern  for  God's  glory  and  the  good  of  his  church  excites  me  to  write 
this.  There  is  one  Mr.  Arnold  appointed  by  the  Honble  Society  an  Itinerant 
missionary  at  New  Haven  in  New  England  who  I  hear  is  coming  over  to  be 
elected  Minister  of  Stratton  Island  in  the  East  Jerseys.  He  shewed  me  a  let- 
ter which  he  received  from  my  Lord  of  Glour  as  also  another  from  yourself. 
But  Revd.  Sir  he  is  unworthy  of  the  name  of  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ.  I 
have  been  in  his  company  several  times  &  was  obliged  to  reprove  him  openly 
for  his  misconduct  for  he  was  an  offence  to  all  that  were  in  the  room. 
Wherever  he  has  been,  a  very  ill  report  is  spread  abroad  concerning  him — 
and  since  my  return  hither  from  New  York,  I  find  he  has  borrowed  4  or  5^  of 
one  Owen  Owens,  &  said  that  Mr.  Cummins  would  pay  it  when  the  man  ap- 
plied to  Mr.  Cummins,  he  said  he  knew  nothing  of  the  matter,  but  rather  than 
have  Mr.  Arnold  exposed,  he  paid  the  sum  for  him.  This  is  to  be  attested  by 
numbers  of  witnesses  and  Mr.  Trame,  Brother  in  law  to  Proprietor  Penn,  told 
me  yesterday,  the  Governor  informed  him  how  he  had  been  chiding  Mr.  Cum- 
mins for  not  suffering  him  to  be  pursued  and  apprehended.  Revd  Sir,  indeed 
I  write  this  out  of  a  pure  regard  to  the  Honor  of  our  common  Master.  The 
sending  proper  Missionaries  into  these  parts  is  a  matter  of  infinite  importance. 
The  Generality  behave  so  Bad  that  they  cause  the  worship  of  the  church  of 
England  to  be  abhor'd.  But  I  propose  troubling  the  Honble  Society  with  an- 
other letter  on  this  subject,  when  I  have  passed  thro'  Maryland  and  Virginia 
and  am  arrived  at  Georgia. 
I  am  Revd  Sir, 

Your  very  humble  servant, 

GEORGE  WHITFIELD. 


213  [i740. 

M\    WHITFIELD    to    the    Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 


On  board  the  Savanah, 

Cap'  Gladman,  on  her  passage  from  Sa- 
vannah to  Philadelphia,  April   7,   1740. 
Revd  Sir, 

In  my  last  from  Philadelphia  I  promised  to  send  you  another  letter,  but  I 
reckoned  the  account  of  the  state  of  Religion  in  these  parts,  published  in  my 
last  journal  has  rendered  my  writing  needless. 

This  comes  to  acquaint  you,  Revd  Sir,  that  I  am  now  on  my  passage  to 
Philadelphia,  whither  I  am  going  to  raise  fresh  supplies  for  the  Orphan  House 
in  Georgia,  and  to  take  up  Land  for  the  Erecting  &  maintaining  a  Negro 
School  in  the  Province  of  Pensylvania.  I  need  not  acquaint  you  Revd  Sir,  of 
the  Pitiable  condition  the  Poor  negroes  are  in,  and  what  hopes  may  be  enter- 
tained of  improving  their  minds,  if  due  care  be  taken  early  to  breed  them  up 
is  the  nurture  &  admonition  of  the  Lord.  To  me  Pensylvania  seems  to  be  the 
best  Province  in  America  for  such  an  undertaking.  The  negroes  meet  there 
with  the  best  usage  and  I  believe  many  of  my  acquaintance  will  either  give  me 
or  let  me  purchase  their  young  slaves  at  a  very  easy  rate.  I  intend  taking 
up  a  tract  of  Land  far  back  in  the  country  and  to  return  to  England  about 
the  latter  end  of  this  year  or  the  beginning  of  the  next  in  order  to  raise  sub- 
scriptions and  to  bring  over  assistants  for  that  work.  My  stay  there  in  all 
probability  will  be  very  short  and  if  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Society  will  be 
pleased  to  contribute  something  towards  my  undertaking,  they  would  do  a 
thing  which  I  believe  will  be  acceptable  in  the  sight  of  God  and  answerable  to 
the  title  they  bear,  as  two  of  the  Right  Revd  Bishops  belonging  to  the  society 
were  pleased  to  subscribe,  I  think  it  right  to  inform  you  that  the  Orphan  house 
in  Georgia  goes  forward,  exceedingly  well,  and  that  God  shews  us  more  and 
more,  that  he  is  with  us  of  a  truth.  My  congregations  at  Savannah  (consid- 
ering the  place),  are  very  large  and  some  of  late,  who  before  knew  only  the 
form,  bless'd  be  God,  now  begin  to  feel  the  Power  of  Religion  in  their  hearts. 
I  find  the  more  I  am  opposed,  the  more  the  work  of  God  goes  on.     As  it  was 


i74i-]  2i4 

formerly  so  it  is  now,  the  church  is  like  a  field,  the  more  it  is  mowed  the  more 
it  grows.     Revd  Sir,  I  know  you   not  in  person,  but  as  you  bear  the  title  of  a 
Secretary  to  the  Society  for  Propogating  the  Gospel  I  am  persuaded  you  will 
not  be  offended  at  the  freedom  of 
Revd  Sir, 

Your  very  humble  servant, 

GEORGE  WHITFIELD. 


M".    PUGH  to  the  Secretary, 


AroQUiNiMY,  April  16th,  1 741 . 
Revd  Sir, 

In  my  last,  dated  in  November,  1 740,  I  complained  of  the  bad  effects  Mr. 
Whitefield's  railery  against  the  Clergy  of  the  Church  of  England  had  upon 
the  people  here  ;  that  it  had  made  them  refrain  very  much,  not  only  from  the 
communion,  but  from  the  coming  to  Church.     I  now  have  the  satisfaction  to 
inform  the  Venerable  Society,  that  as  they  are  grown  cooler,  my  congrega- 
tions are  very  much   increased,  as  is  the  number  of  communicants.     I  don't 
know  that  I  have  lost  one,  but  many  are  lately  added,  whereas  I  was  afraid  I 
should  have  lost  many.     I  must  own  it  made  a  strong  impression  upon  me  to 
see  those  people  forsake  me  so  on  a  sudden,  who  but  little  before,  I  thought 
could  hardly  be  drawn  away  from  me,  but  he  unluckily  came  the  first  time 
when  I  had  lain  for  some  time  and  was  then  dangerously  ill  and  incapable  of 
doing  my  duty,  and  the  second  time  when  I  was  very  weak  and  low  in  Spirit, 
So  they  were  the  more  easily  to  be  drawn  aside,  having  nobody  to  instruct 
and  advise  them,  and  their  shyness  towards  the  Chuh  made  the  deeper  impres- 
sion upon  me  thro'  my  weakness.     As  to  the  number  of  Inhabitants  I  cannot  pre- 
tend to  give  any  exact  account,  because  there  are  no  Parochial  bounderies.    So 
many  as  are  of  the  Church  of  England  within  the  compass  of  12  or  18  miles> 
are  of  my  congregation  and  those  I  reckon  to  be  about  40  Families ;  the  Pres- 
byterians, which  are   innumerable,  are  by  far  the  greatest  Party,  and  are  still 
increasing,  multitudes  of  them  coming  in  and  settling  here  from  the  North  of 
Ireland.     Papists  are  but  very  few,  not  above   3   or  4  Families,  at  least  that 


215  [i74i. 

are  known  to  be  such.  Quakers  not  very  many,  and  seem  to  dwindle  away ; 
the  greatest  harm  that  the  Presbyterians  do  us,  is  by  mixt  Marriages  and  by 
this  means  they  draw  away  many  of  our  young  people  so  that  we  have  but 
few  of  them  that  stay  with  us  after  they  get  married,  and  how  to  remedy  this 
misfortune  I  know  not,  for  if  I  offer  to  say  any  thing  against  mixt  marriages, 
tho'  I  am  as  cautious  in  speaking  as  I  can  be,  yet  I  shall  incur  the  displeasure 
of  both  sides ;  if  there  be  any  small  tracts  upon  that  subject,  I  should  be  glad 
if  the  Society  would  favour  us  with  some  ;  we  are  much  in  want  of  Bibles, 
scarce  one  in  the  congregation  has  a  Bible  to  bring  to  Church.  If  the  Society 
would  be  pleased  to  bestow  some  Small  Bibles  with  the  Com"  Prayer  and  the 
new  Version,  we  should  be  very  thankful.  Some  of  Lewis's  Catechisms  would 
be  very  acceptable. 

The  number  of  communicants  this  Easter  at  Apoquinimy  was  26,  at  St. 
George's  14,  which  are  more  than  we  have  had  since  I  have  been  Missionary 
here.  I  have  baptized  since  Novr  last  16  children,  all  of  which,  but  two  or 
three,  I  have  been  obliged  to  baptize  at  home,  because  the  extremity  of  the 
cold  has  been  such,  that  they  could  not  safely  be  brought  to  Church ;  we  have 
lately  lost  one  of  our  first  and  chief  benefactors  &  supporters  of  our  Church, 
one  Andrew  Peterson,  a  man  very  well  inclined,  and  very  much  lamented  by 
our  Congregation  and  by  the  Country.  He  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace 
and  member  of  the  house  of  Assembly  for  several  years  past  successively, 
and  behaved  himself  to  the  intire  satisfaction  of  his  Country.  I  have  now 
brushed  through  the  severest  Winter  that  has  been  known  in  these  parts,  and 
have  been  constant  in  my  duty  without  Intermission  ;  only  one  Sunday  I  was 
hindered  by  a  great  thaw  upon  a  very  deep  snow  which  rendered  the  Roads 
almost  impassable.  I  am  under  a  very  ill  habit  of  body,  expecting  every  day 
to  be  disabled  by  a  stubborn  inflammatory  disorder  in  my  legs,  very  difficult 
to  be  cured,  which  I  have  suffered  by  already  severely,  but  be  my  affliction  as 
great  as  it  will,  I  contentedly  submit  to  the  Will  of  my  God ;  my  greatest  con- 
cern is  for  the  good  of  my  people,  and  should  I  be  disabled,  it  may  prove  a 
considerable  loss  to  them  as  it  has  already,  not  long  since.  However,  so  long 
as  I  am  able  I  continue  the  same  resolution  I  always  had :  to  do  what  I  can 
towards  promoting  the  Salvation  of  men. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir, 

Y'rs,  &c,  &c., 

JOHN  PUGHJ 


i742-]  2I6 

M\   RICHD  BACKHOUSE  to  the  Secretary. 

Chester,  July  25th,  1 741 . 
Revd  Sir, 

The  difficulties  I  met  with  in  coming  at  near  an  exact  account  of  the  num- 
ber of  Inhabitants  in  the  Townships  among  whom  my  congregations  are  scat- 
tered, made  me  defer  writing  till  now,  but  having  as  I  think  at  last  made  a 
pretty  just  calculation,  You  may  depend  upon  an  account  of  my  Parish  for 
the  future  according  to  the  Society's  instructions  in  that  case.  The  people 
under  my  care  steadily  persevere  in  their  religious  principles,  and  are  possessed 
with  a  becoming  Zeal  for  the  doctrines  and  discipline  of  our  Church.  And 
with  Joy  I  can  assure  you,  not  one  soul  of  them  have  been  infected  with  the 
Enthusiastic  and  Heterodox  opinions  that  have  been  preach'd  and  propagated 
among  us.  About  a  month  ago,  at  Mr.  Blackhall's  request,  I  went  40  miles 
back,  To  among  my  old  Congregation  at  Pequea,  A  people  I  gathered  from 
among  almost  all  manner  of  Sects  and  Countries,  A  Congregation  I  duly 
attended  once  a  month,  even  in  the  most  rigorous  weather,  both  Winter  and 
Summer,  for  full  eleven  years,  some  of  whom  were  of  late  grown  giddy 
brain'd  with  Whitefield's  preaching,  and  some  of  his  brethren,  the  Presbyte- 
rian Itinerants,  refusing  to  go  to  Church,  but  those  with  whom  J  conversed,  I 
left  fully  satisfied,  promising  to  return  to  their  duty,  and  not  to  be  drawn  aside 
or  deluded  any  longer  by  those  bold  and  ranting  enthusiasts.  Our  School- 
master, Mr.  Houston,  last  Novr,  left  Chester  for  better  preferment,  as  he 
thought,  in  Maryland,  and  soon  after  we  had  recommended  to  us  one  Mr. 
Chas  Fortescue,  who  has  hitherto  approved  himself  the  most  diligent  master 
and  every  way  the  best  qualified  of  any  we  ever  yet  had  at  Chester,  and  if  the 
Society  will  be  pleased  to  confer  on  him  their  Salary  as  formerly  on  Houston, 
I  am  persuaded  he  will  answer  their  gracious  intentions  among  the  poor,  and 
be  of  great  service  to  the  whole  congregation.  I  the  more  earnestly  recom- 
mend him  to  the  Honble  Board,  not  only  because  he  is  a  fit  person,  but  because 
(what  I  am  sorry  to  acquaint  you  with)  the  Quakers,  with  all  their  power  and 
ill  offices,  have  endeavored  to  drive  him  away,  and  set  up  another,  not  one  of 
their  own  sort  truly,  but  a  native  Irish  biggoted  Papist,  in  opposition  to  him. 
And  that  not  with  that  Sliness  and  Caution  they  are  used  to  act  in  other 


217  [i/4i. 

affairs,  But  openly  and  without  any  reserve,  So  that  without  the  honble  Society 
will  continue  their  wonted  goodness  to  us  in  this  point,  The  rising  generation, 
especially  the  poor,  For  want  of  necessary  instruction,  will  lye  open  to  the 
assaults  of  this  persecuting  and  deluding  people  who  wish  evil  to  our  Sion. 
Nay,  moreover,  if  this  just  and  true  account  of  plain  matter  of  Fact,  be  pub- 
lished in  the  printed  papers,  I'm  very  sure  of  a  hot  persecution.  In  my  last  I 
sent  you  a  list  of  the  Subscriptions,  I  received  for  my  Support  from  the  people 
for  that  year,  and  I  make  no  doubt  but  you'll  be  surprised  to  see  the  number 
of  Church  Families  within  the  Circuit  of  my  Parish  and  yet  find  so  little 
encouragement  for  their  Minister,  but  'tis  a  thing  easily  to  be  accounted  for. 
For  besides  the  real  necessity  of  one  great  part,  and  the  popular  plea  of 
another  part,  viz :  Our  minister  has  his  Salary  from  home,  It  is  not  so  much 
to  be  wondered  at  to  find  in  them  a  tincture  of  coldness  in  giving  me  any 
thing,  when  I  acquaint  you  that  Chester  County  is  reckoned  by  all  to  be  the 
throngest  settled  with  Quakers,  Philadelphia  City  excepted,  of  any  other  part 
in  the  Province.  And  'tis  natural  to  think  that  in  all  religious  conferences 
with  their  neighbours,  the  word  hirelings,  or  preachers  for  money,  must  be 
brought  up  as  a  name  of  reproach.  I'm  forced  without  urging  them  to  be 
content  with  what  they  will  please  to  give  me,  For  my  Predecessor,  Mr. 
Humphreys,  moving  them  to  their  duty  in  that  particular,  caus'd  them  to 
refuse  paying  him  any  thing  at  all,  which  occasioned  him  to  leave  them  and 
seek  for  a  Parish  in  Maryland.  Our  wild  enthusiasts  are  Incessantly  gadding 
thro'  the  Country  &  teaching  the  people  to  run  mad,  and  when  they  do  not 
fall  down  and  beat  their  breasts  and  bellow,  They  tell  them  they  are  in  a 
damn'd  state,  and  sentence  them  immediately  to  hell.  I  have  here  sent  you 
in  a  Newspaper  a  letter  to  the  Revd  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent,  that  dear  Brother 
and  Fellow  labourer  with  Mr.  Whitefield,  wherein  you  have  a  specimen  how 
these  new  Apostles  convert  the  secure  world,  and  with  what  throws  and  pangs 
they  are  born  again,  and  in  my  next,  if  I  can  get  it,  I'll  send  you  some  part  of 
a  discourse  most  powerfully  delivered  by  another  brother  in  the  back  parts  of 
our  Country,  in  the  mean  time  I  make  bold  to  subscribe  myself, 
Revd  Sir, 

Your  Obed1  humble  SeiV, 
28  RICHD  BACKHOUSE. 


I741-]  2I8 

M'\  RICHD  BACKHOUSE  to  the  Sec>'. 

Chester,  Octr  13th,  1741. 
Revd  Sir, 

My  last  letter  I  sent  you  by  the  hands  of  Mr.  Chas  Willing,  a  gentleman 
of  character  and  worth,  and  one  of  the  principal  merchants  in  Philedelphia,  in 
which  I  gave  you  a  just  account  of  the  state  of  my  Parish.  And  now  I  have 
nothing  new  or  strange  to  acquaint  you  with.  For  we  are  in  the  same  good 
&  quiet  condition  as  when  last  I  wrote.  My  People  are  so  far  from  being 
moved  or  rendered  unsteady  by  the  religious  Freaks  and  antic  tricks  the 
Whitefieldians  are  acting  up  and  down  the  Country,  That  they  are  the  more 
established  by  comparing  their  doctrine  and  practices  with  the  Doctrine,  the 
decency,  and  order  enjoyed  and  made  use  of  in  our  public  Worship. 

I  let  you  understand  after  Mr.  Houston's  departure  from  Chester,  one  Mr. 
Charles  Fortescue  came  well  recommended  to  us  to  supply  his  place,  and 
indeed  in  every  respect  answers  the  good  character  that  attended  him  hither. 
I  make  bold  to  double  my  solicitations  with  the  honble  Society  in  his  and  my 
congregation's  favour,  assuring  you  he  is  both  a  very  capable  and  proper  per- 
son for  the  Society's  imploy,  as  Schoolmaster  here.  Besides  being  careful  of 
Teaching  his  Scholars  their  Church  Catechism,  he  diligently  observes  to  make 
them  all  regularly  attend  the  Church,  and  'tis  no  small  satisfaction  to  me  and 
the  whole  congregation  to  hear  the  voices  of  very  small  children  audibly  mak- 
ing proper  responses,  and  bearing  their  part  thro'  the  whole  service  to  the 
admiration  as  well  as  reproach  of  some  old  people  who  cannot  do  it  them- 
selves. In  my  former  letter  I  told  you  how  the  Quakers  behave  to  us  with 
regard  to  our  master,  and  I  assure  you  I  was  very  short  in  my  account,  to 
what  might  be  said,  Lest  it  might  come  to  their  knowledge,  and  I  conse- 
quently be  made  very  uneasie  in  my  station,  For  they  have  of  late  taken  such 
haughty  airs,  as  if  they  have  almost  forgot  they  are  subjects,  and  give  such 
treatment  to  our  Govr  himself  as  will,  in  my  opinion,  necessitate  his  Majesty 
to  take  the  government  of  this  Province  into  his  own  hands.  I  gave  you  some 
expectations  of  seeing  a  copy  of  a  Sermon  delivered  in  the  back  parts  of  our 
Country,  by  one  Mr.  Rowland,  one  of  those  7  or  8  worthy  ministers  that  have 
lately    been    sent  out  of  the  Academy  of  old   Mr.  Tennent,  as  Whitefield 


2i9  [i74i- 

expresses  himself  in  his  Journal,  but  it  has  not  as  yet  come  to  hand.  I've 
drawn  my  bills  of  Exchange  from  Lady  day  last  to  Michaelmas  for  Mr. 
Charles  Willing,  or  Order,  the  Gentleman  I  sent  my  last  packet  by,  and  who  I 
hope  before  this  is  safely  arrived  in  England.  They  come  with  this  letter  in 
the  Ship  Constantine,  Edward  Wright,  Master.  I  also  shall  draw  my  Christ's 
Bills  for  the  same  Gentleman.  And  in  taking  this  as  proper  advice  thereof, 
you  will  oblige, 

Revd  Sir, 

Your  most  Obedient 

Humble  Servant, 

RICHD  BACKHOUSE. 


To  the  Right  Revd  and  Honble  the  Society  for  the   Propagation 
of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts. 


The  Humble  Petition  of  the  Congregation  of  SAINT  PA  UL'S  Church  in 
the  Town  of  Chester,  and  Province  of  Pensylvania,  in  AMERICA, 

Most  Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  your  Petitioners,  by  your  gracious  liberality  &  goodness,  for  some 
years  past,  enjoying  the  benefit  of  a  Protestant  Teacher,  for  our  Children, 
became  sometime  in  November  last  destitute,  by  the  removal  of  Mr.  James 
Houston  to  Maryland,  upon  greater  and  better  encouragement,  as  he  imag- 
ined, than  we,  your  poor  Petitioners,  could  afford,  and  so  were  left  under  this 
unhappy  dilemma,  either  to  send  our  Children  to  Popish  Teachers,  who  are 
numerouse  in  these  parts,  or  to  rear  them  without  any. 

Your  Petitioners  further  declare  that  in  the  month  of  January  succeeding 
Mr.  Houston's  departure,  Mr.  Charles  Fortescue,  hearing  of  a  Vacancy  at 
Chester,  through  an  earnest  desire  and  laudable  ambition  of  beino-  admitted 
into  the  Honble  Society's  service,  left  Maryland,  where  he  had  better  offers 
than  Mr.  Houston  accepted  of,  and  came  well  recommended  to  offer  himself 
as  a  master  for  our  School.     Mr.  Backhouse,  upon  examination,  found  him 


1 741 .]  220 

capable  of  teaching  Latin  and  Greek,  and  he  is  by  all  men  acknowledged  to  be 
an  able  mathematician.  His  temper  and  prudence  are  conspicuously  good  as 
hath  been  demonstrated  by  his  behaviour  under  the  Trials,  and  as  we  may 
properly  call  it,  Persecution  he  has  met  with  from  the  Quakers.  For  as  the 
greater  part  of  Church  members,  in  and  about  the  Skirts  of  our  Town,  are 
poor,  and  consequently  we  found  ourselves  not  capable  to  give  an  encourage- 
ment adequate  to  his  merits,  or  sufficient  to  maintain  his  family,  so  we,  with 
all  the  address  imaginable,  made  an  essay  to  influence  the  Quakers  to  join 
with  us  in  supporting  him.  But  Behold,  as  soon  as  they  perceived  by  his 
sober  and  pious  conversation,  that  the  good  of  the  Church  was  naturally 
involved,  and  would  be  still  farther  promoted  by  fixing  that  Gentleman  here, 
besides  their  public  insults  and  private  machinations,  They  did  what  none  but 
Quakers  dare  do,  in  a  Country  under  the  Government  of  a  Protestant  King, 
that  is,  they  engaged  by  their  great  encouragement  a  rigid,  virulent  Papist,  to 
set  up  School  in  the  said  Town  of  Chester,  In  order  to  oppose  and  impover- 
ish the  said  Protestant  Teacher.  Upon  such  their  proceedings  we  meekly 
and  seriously  debated  the  matter  with  them,  alledging  the  Inconsistancy 
thereof  under  a  Protestant  Government,  and  shewed  them  that  the  same  was 
contrary  to  the  Statute  of  the  11  &  1 2th  of  King  William  the  Third,  with 
others  of  the  like  nature.  Yet  notwithstanding  they  did,  and  still  persist  to 
encourage  the  same.  Nay  they  carried  their  implacable  malice  so  far  as  to 
occasion  by  threats  and  promises  most  of  the  Children  who  were  under  the 
said  Protestant  teacher's  Tuition  to  be  taken  from  him  without  being  able  to 
give  any  reason  for  such  their  proceedings,  but  only  this  indubitable  one 
(which  we  do  attest  to  the  Hon1  Board  to  be  true)  of  his  being  a  Zealous 
Protestant  of  the  established  Church,  and  sincerely  attached  to  the  present 
happy  establishment  which  are  qualifycations  sufficient,  we  are  assured,  to 
incur  their  displeasure,  when  at  the  same  time  Deists,  Jacobites  and  Papists 
are  embraced  and  promoted  and  the  most  Blasphemous  Doctrines  propagated 
and  unpunished. 

We,  therefore,  your  most  humble  petitioners,  beg  leave  to  entreat,  that  as 
you  have  of  your  unexampled  Charity,  hitherto  been  pleas'd  to  grant  to  our 
former  School-Masters  Ten  pounds  Sterg  ^  annm  for  their  educating  the  poor 
Protestant  Children,  so  now  you  will  be  pleased  out  of  your  great  goodness  to 
confer  the  same  on  Mr.  Chas  Fortesque,  and  if  our  request  may  not  be 
adjudged  too  bold  or  assuming,  that  you  would  vouchsafe  to  grant  him  the 


221  [}7Al- 

said  Salary  from  the  time  of  his  coming  hither,  He  having-  with  a  mind 
unshaken,  constantly  attended  his  School,  without  being  in  the  least  diverted 
therefrom  by  threats,  public  affronts  and  all  kinds  of  ill  offices,  and  did  with 
chearfulness  and  willingness  teach  all  the  poor  Protestant  Children  that  came 
to  his  School.  His  care  and  tenderness  being  extraordinary  great,  his  meth- 
ods Judicious  and  commendable,  and  his  assiduity  and  Labour  Indefatigable. 

In  granting  your  Importunate  Petitioners  their  humble  request  You  will  add 
strength  to  our  feeble  Church,  beset  on  all  sides  with  multitudes  of  enemies, 
You  will  lay  under  the  highest  obligations,  not  only  the  aged,  but  the  Infant 
Tongue,  daily  to  attend  the  thrown  of  Grace  for  your  present  and  eternal 
happiness. 

As  is  the  bounden  duty  of  your  most  humble  petitioners, 

JAMES  WALKER,       1 
CHAS  CONNER,  j  Warctens' 

Alexr  Hunter, 
Jno.  Walker, 
Joseph  Richards, 
Edd  Richards, 
Chas  Illcore, 
Will"  Turner, 
Saml  Webster, 
Willm  Black, 

and  others. 


Vestry. 


M".  HO  IF  IE  to  the  Secretary, 


Oxford,  in  Pensylvania, 
Sep"  29th,  1 741. 
Revd  Sir. 

*  *  *  My  income  last  year  from  Oxford  was  £1 6,  10s,  6d,  paper  money, 
and  this  is  paid  by  subscription,  sometimes  10,  5,  4,  3,  or  2  shillings  at  times, 
so  that  when  a  sum  of  money  is  paid  after  this  way,  it  is  but  of  small  service 


I  74I .]  222 

to  a  family.  And  as  for  those  who  are  deficient  in  paying-  their  subscriptions, 
we  cannot  sue  them  without  having  the  charges  thrown  upon  us,  and  losing 
our  just  due  besides,  such  an  unhappy  constitution  do  we  live  under. 

Number  of  heads  of  Families  in  Oxford  is  about  49.  I  have  baptized 
within  the  last  h  year  12  Children  and  one  Adult ;  last  Whitsunday  18  received 
the  holy  communion. 

Those  who  are  really  of  the  Church  of  England  do  not  at  present  exceed 
25  in  number,  and  few  of  them  are  subscribers. 

I  cannot  possibly  affix  the  number  of  dissenters.  The  people  of  our  Prov- 
ince are  this  and  that,  here  and  there,  and  of  no  steady  principles,  sometimes 
anything  or  nothing,  just  as  the  humour  takes  them,  or  the  Spirit  of  Giddi- 
ness moves  them.  However,  Quakers  and  Anabaptists  are  numerous,  some 
Presbyterians  and  Whitefieldians,  but  few  open  Papists. 

I  know  not  of  any  professed  heathens  and  Infidels.  The  native  Indians 
lye  a  great  many  miles  back  in  the  Country ;  indeed,  there  are  some  people 
among  us,  viz  :  Whitefield's  followers,who  seldom  frequent  any  place  of  orthodox 
worship,  and  tho'  many  of  them  seem  to  be  convinced  that  their  pious  leader 
is  a  mercenary  impostor,  yet  so  big  are  their  stomachs,  that  rather  than  own 
their  convictions  openly,  they  are  resolved  to  be  obstinate,  and  are  in  a  fair 
way  to  lose  all  sober  principles  by  imagining  that  the  new  Exercise  of  Hymn 
singing,  the  Solifidian  Scheme,  and  damning  all  their  Innocent  neighbours  who 
differ  from  them  will  carry  them  to  heaven. 

Sir,  I  beg  that  you  will  speak  to  the  Treasurers  of  the  Society  with  respect 
to  one  of  my  Bills  returned  here  with  a  Protest.  If  my  selling  them  some- 
times before  they  are  strictly  due  is  the  cause  of  it,  I  must  say  my  narrow  cir- 
cumstances and  expensive  situation,  together  with  ill  paid  subscriptions,  have 
hitherto  obliged  me  so  to  do.  From  these  considerations  I  did  sometime  a^o 
petition  the  hon1  Society  for  a  gratuity  or  an  increase  of  Salary  or  for  their 
leave  to  move  to  Staten  Island,  and  if  any  one  of  these  favours  had  been 
granted  mc,  I  should  have  been  in  such  a  condition,  as  not  to  sell  Bills  before 
the  time.  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  express  what  fatigues  and  hardships  I  have 
laboured  under  in  my  present  situation  from  a  faithful  discharge  of  the  duties 
of  my  mission  all  along,  but  especially  of  late  from  the  opposition  I  have  met 
with  in  publickly  discovering  the  mischievous  Doctrine  and  Irregular  conduct 
of  that  malignant  Preacher  Mr.  Whitefield,  which  has  drawn  on  me  the  resent- 
ment and  malice  of  our  angry  Zealots  and  Sectaries,  who  would  rejoice  at 


223  [i74i- 

the  downfall  of  our  Sion  and  her  ministers.  But  notwithstanding-  I  am 
resolved  to  do  my  duty,  which  thro'  God's  blessing-  has  had  such  an  effect  as  to 
convince  many  of  the  errors  they  were  running  into  and  brought  some  home 
to  the  Church  again. 

That  God  may  bless  the  Honble  Society's  designs  for  the  good  of  his 
Church  and  the  Promoting  of  Christianity  in  these  American  parts,  is  the 
hearty  prayer  of  him  who  is, 

Reverend  Sir, 

Your  most  humble 

Obedient  Servant, 

ALEXR  HOWIE. 

P.  S. — The  parsonage  lands  and  house  belonging  to  Oxford  are  in  a  ruin- 
ous condition,  and  the  people  have  always  been,  and  still  are,  very  negligent 
and  slothful  about  repairing  them,  so  that  I  have  no  more  benefit  from  60 
acres  of  Land  than  if  I  had  none.  All  that  can  be  said  is,  that  I  and  my  Fam- 
ily live  rent  free,  at  the  hazard  of  our  lives,  for  the  house  will  neither  keep  out 
wet  nor  cold,  which  last  is  very  extreme  in  the  Winter. 

A.  H. 


To  the  Right  Revd.  EDMUND  LORD  BISHOP  of 

LONDON. 


The  Humble  Address  of  the  Church  Wardens  &  Vestry  of  Christ  Church  in 
Philadelphia,  in  the  province  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  Mournfull  Occasion  which  calls  upon  us  at  this  time  to  Address  your 
Lordship,  is  the  much  lamented-  Death  of  your  Lordship's  Commissary  &  our 
worthy  Minister  the  Rev.  &  Mr.  Archibald  Cummings  ;  who  Departed  this 
Life  on  Sunday  the  nineteenth  Instant,  and  was  interr'd  Yesterday  in  our 
Church  :  with  that  Solemnity  and  Regard  becoming  the  Universal  good  Char- 
acter &  Esteem,  which  he  bore  among  his  Acquaintance,  of  every  Religious 


174I-]  224 

Denomination  &  Society,  for  his  Learning,  Piety,  Moderation,  and  every  other 
good  Quality  that  might  Adorn  his  sacred  Function. 

The  Happy  Intercourse  which  subsisted  betwixt  your  Lordship  &  Mr. 
Cummings,  gave  him  frequent  Opportunity  of  transmitting  to  your  Lordship, 
the  State  of  this  Church  ;  and  receiving  your  Lordship's  fatherly  Council  & 
Advice  thereupon.  That  this  favourable  Intercourse  may  be  still  continued, 
and  the  better  promoted,  We  do  entirely  Submit  the  Nomination  of  a  person 
for  this  Church,  to  your  Lordship's  Choice,  which  from  the  great  Regard  your 
Lordship  has  always  shewn  for  its  happiness  &  success  ;  gives  us  full  Assur- 
ance under  your  Lordship's  care,  of  having  a  person  every  way  fit  &  suited 
to  the  important  Trust. 

It  cannot  be  unknown  to  your  Lordship,  that  the  support  of  the  Minister 
of  this  Congregation  depends  upon  the  Voluntary  Subscriptions  of  the  Mem- 
bers ;  who  have  hitherto  zealously  Contributed  a  handsome  provision  to  their 
Minister,  as  far  as  their  Circumstances  would  admit ;  and  it  is  not  to  be 
doubted,  they  will  always  think  it  incumbent  upon  them,  &  handsomely  to 
support  a  Pastor  duly  approved  of  by  your  Lordship. 

The  neighbouring  Clergy  have  kindly  offered  &  engaged  to  serve  this 
Church  by  turns  (as  for  two  months  past  they  have  done)  until  the  Winter 
sets  in,  and  the  Weather  prevents  their  being  able  to  travel :  We  therefore 
most  humbly  beg  your  Lordship  will  be  pleased  to  use  your  kind  Endeavours 
to  send  us  a  Minister  if  conveniency  permits,  so  that  we  may  be  happily  sup- 
plyed  before  next  Winter.  For  which  &  all  other  your  Lordship's  favours 
&  benevolence  extended  to  us,  We  shall  as  in  Duty  bound,  most  sincerely 
endeavour  to  approve  ourselves. 

May  it  please  your  Lordship 

Your  Lordship's  most  Obedient  &  Dutifull 

Sons  and  Servants, 
Tho.  Bourne,         Pet.  Evans,  William  Byewell,  )    rx/     j 

Willm  Bell,  Tho.  Lawrence,  Jon  Danby, 

Wm  Passchall,        Alexander  Wooddrof,       Jos.  Kearsley, 
Thos  Leech,  Wm  Till,  Richard  Peters, 

Richd  Sewell,         Benja.  Morgan,  Wm  Chancellor, 

Sam1  Hassell. 
Philadelphia  the  23d  day  of  April,  1741. 


225  [I74L 

Churchwardens,   &'.,  to  the  BISHOP  of  LONDON. 


1741. 
My  Lord, 

As  this  Conveyance  brings  the  account  of  the  lamented  death  of  Mr.  Cum- 
mins, and  an  Address  of  the  Vestry  referring  the  choice  of  his  Successor  to 
your  Lordship,  We  who  are  members  of  the  Church  and  know  the  mind  of 
the  Congregation  excuse  ourselves  tor  renewing  our  application  made  some 
years  ago  to  your  Lordship  in  favor  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Richard  Peters. 
His  former  recommendation  was  at  the  instance  of  nine  tenths  of  the  Church 
and  proceeded  from  the  experience  of  his  abilities  and  religious  disposition  in 
his  discharge  of  this  Ministerial  Duty,  and  his  virtuous  and  good  life  for  the 
five  years  that  he  has  lived  amongst  us  has  so  fixed  him  in  the  esteem  of  most 
people  that  the  greater  number  of  the  vestry  were  inclinable  to  move  for  his 
immediate  appointment,  but  when  he  came  to  hear  of  this  he  insisted  peremp- 
torily that  no  such  notion  should  be  made,  deeming  it  inconsistent  with  his 
Duty  to  your  Lordship  and  contrary  to  his  fixed  resolution  of  never  resuming 
the  Ministerial  function  in  these  Parts  without  first  consulting  your  Lordship 
and  having  your  advice  and  approbation. 

Hereupon  the  general  address  which  accompanies  this  letter  was  unani- 
mously resolved  on  and  we  now  on  behalf  of  ourselves  and  of  by  far  the 
greatest  part  of  the  Congregation  become  earnest  Petitioners  to  your  Lord- 
ship that  Mr.  Peters's  Talents  may  be  no  longer  buried  in  a  Lay  tho'  Honora- 
ble Employment,  but  he  may  by  your  Lordship's  appointment  return  to  the 
exercise  of  the  Pastoral  Care  amongst  us  for  which  by  his  Piety,  Virtue  and 
learning  he  is  so  excellently  well  qualified.  His  attachment  to  the  Constitu- 
tion of  our  Established  Church  is  confessedly  sincere  and  strong  and  will 
appear  to  be  truly  disinterested  since  if  your  Lordship  should  favor  this  appli- 
cation he  will  thereby  be  obliged  to  resign  an  office  greatly  preferable  in  point 
of  annual  Income  to  what  he  must  expect  to  have  from  our  Contributions,  but 
as  many  of  us  have  often  heard  him  say  that  the  profits  of  his  office  tho' 
considerable  would  never  make  him  amends  for  the  pleasure  he  lost  in  per- 
forming his  Duty  as  a  Clergyman,  We  are  well  assured  that  we  do  both  him 

and  ourselves  service  in  recommending  him  to  your  Lordship. 
29 


I74I-] 


226 


We  have  always  lamented  that  there  were  some  few  persons  abont  M> 

Cummins  whose  misrepresentations  of  M-.  Peters  had  such  „ 7m     !, 

both  as  to  make  their  separation  necessary,  bn.  we  must  do  M-  Peters  the 

ust.ce  o  say  that  when  many  of  the  Members  of  the  Chnrch.  and  prinXdlv 

hose  who  supported  W.  Cummins  had  carried  their  resentments  soTr7sto 

subscribe  large  sums  for  the  building  of  a  new  Church  and  for  an  h and  ome 

annual  Provision  for  M'.  Peters,  he  no,  only  diswaded  them  from  it  but  bv 

his  earnest  sohcitat.ons  and  pious  example  prevailed  with  them  all    o  re  urn 

to  a  constant  and  regular  attendance  a.  Church  and  to  give  their  Minis.e    h  " 

usual  support.  **  wuui&rer  nis 

This  is  very  different  from  the  case  of  those  who  are  M'.  Peters's  Enemies 
for  „  may  be  proper  to  inform  your  Lordship  that  even  he  tho  ZdeTeZl 
a  Person  has  some  enemies,  but  we  can  with  Truth  assure  your  Lords!  ip  dial 

.heirRr:,iV,eoy  eW,beS'deSthOSePOOrpe°Plewl10  te"  b«n  deluded  ou  o 
the.r  Rehg.on  and  a  great  part  of  their  understanding  by  the  plausible  maT 
ner  and  affected  zeal  of  M'.  Whitefield's  nreachin,,  1a  i  P,auslb|e  man- 

*.  Peters  because  he  had  the  hones' an^uitf'to dec are  ra oZ  cf "  H 
after  the  Service  was  over  and  M,  Wn.tefield  had  £^£2£££ 
his  rantrng  Discourses  that  his  Doctrines  and  Practices  vvere  con.rarf  to  the 
Chnstian  Dispensations  as  well  as  to  the  Constitution  of  that  par  ,cu lar 
Church  of  which  he  unjustly  assumed  the  name  of  a  Member  and  M  „     er 

have  r^  r      red  >OUr  L°rdship  °f  the  Esteem  -  »<•  -an"  oAers 

deserves   We  h»T  T"*  a"d  ^iven  the  cl— ter  *    truly 
deserves,   We  hope  to  have  a  favorable  answer  from  your  Lordshin  .!,„  I 

,t  be  otherwise  it  will  we  own  give  us  great  concern  tho'  no,  equal^he  pre 

judice  it  may  at  this  t,me  prove  to  the  establish!  Church  in  this  City  P 

respect  t0  aSSUre  >OUr  L°rdShiP  th!"  WC  are  With  the  mOS'  P™fo«"d 

Your  Lordship's  dutiful  sons  and  Servants, 

BENJ"  MORGAN,  '         -| 

W.  CHANCELLOR, 

WILLIAM  PIEWELL,       \  C/mn/t  Wardens. 

JO".  DAUBY.  J 

EcUV  Bradley,  William  Saunders,  w  Crofthwaite, 

'"'  Corn-Bowne,  James  Benbridge, 


227 


[i74i- 


Wm  Till, 
Tho.  Lawrence, 
Wm  Paschall, 
Richd  Sewell, 
Rob'  Ellis, 
Abram  Taylor, 
B.  Turner, 
E.  Bridges, 
Richd  Nixon, 
Thos  Hopkinson, 
Edwd  Jones, 
Wm  Craddocke, 
Thos  Greome, 
John  Sober, 
Attwood  Shutz, 
H.  Schleydore, 
Tench  Francis, 
Patrick  Baird, 
Philip  Hulbeart, 
Thos  Glentworth, 
John  Knowles,  Junr, 
Jo".  Knowles,  Minr, 
Caleb  Cash, 
Randall  Yetton, 
George  Megee, 
John  Hoy, 
Thos  Carter, 
George  Claypole, 


Peter  David, 

Jas  Mengahoyd, 

Thos  Howard, 

Henry  Pratt, 

James  Wragg, 

Jn°.  Shewbart, 

Samuel  Hall, 

Jn°.  Williams, 

Wm  Murdock, 

Jn°.  Johnson, 

Hugh  Tresse, 

Henry  Clarke, 

Gusts  Hesselius, 

Rob4  Taylor, 

Lamb1  Emerson, 

Jn°.  Roberdes, 

Joseph  Skippen, 

John  Inglis, 

Thomas  Lawrence,  Junr, 

Evan  Morgan, 

Peter  Bard, 

Jacob  Duchess, 

James  Peller, 

William  Hellier, 

John  Wilcocks, 

Randle  Dicas, 

Stephen  Vidal, 

John  Postlethwaite, 


Joseph  Marks, 
Thos  Mullan, 
Anty  Duche, 
William  Vanderspregel, 
John  Wilkinson, 
Rob1  Barton, 
William  Smith, 
Robert  Daires, 
John  Knowles, 
Robert  Jewell, 
George  Okill, 
Richd  Farmar, 
James  Pearson, 
Rob1  Greenway. 


I741-]  228 

M'\  PETERS  to  the   BISHOP  of  LONDON. 


Philadelphia, 

11th  May,  1 741. 
My  Lord, 

So  long  ago  as  the  29th  of  Novr.  1737,  I  took  the  Liberty  to  inform  your 
Lordship  of  my  Acceptance  of  the  Place  of  Secretary  of  the  Land  Office  for 
this  Province  and  the  three  Lower  Counties,  and  at  the  same  time  express'd 
my  earnest  desire  of  the  continuance  of  your  Lordship's  Paternal  Regards 
and  that  you  would  look  on  me  as  a  dutiful  Son  placed  in  such  unhappy  Cir- 
cumstances as  made  it  expedient  and  necessary  for  me  to  consult  my  Prudence 
more  than  my  Inclination  in  that  Disposition  of  myself. 

I  have  continued  in  the  same  office  ever  since,  and  now  on  the  Death  of 
Mr.  Cummins,  a  great  part  of  the  Congregation  being  desirous  to  see  me 
again  in  the  Ministry  have  recommend  me  to  Your  Lordship  for  a  License, 
and  Your  Appointment  to  succeed  him.  I  assure  You  1  had  at  first  no  other 
concern  in  this  Application  than  a  bare  consent,  but  when  I  came  to  under- 
stand that  before  my  name  was  so  much  as  mentioned  on  this  occasion,  and  the 
very  day  after  Mr.  Cummins  was  buried,  the  whole  Body  of  the  Clergy  had 
signed  a  Representation  against  me  to  Your  Lordship,  I  entertain'd  different 
thoughts  of  this  affair,  and  imagin'd  that  this  blow  was  struck  at  my  ministerial 
Character  and  with  an  Intention  to  prejudice  me  forever  in  Your  Lordship's 
Judgment.  I  have  always  lived  on  good  Terms  with  all,  and  in  Friendship 
with  some  of  the  Missionaries,  and  was  at  a  loss  to  conceive  on  what  Grounds 
they  cou'd  found  such  a  Representation  and  therefore  applied  to  Mr.  Ross 
to  know  what  had  been  done  and  for  what  Reasons.  He  acknowledged 
immediately,  and  with  abundance  of  Frankness  that  when  the  Missionaries 
were  together  at  Philadelphia  to  attend  Mr.  Cummins'  Funeral,  they  had  from 
surprise  and  without  any  manner  of  consideration,  signified  to  Your  Lordship 
that  it  wou'd  be  inconsistent  with  the  Peace  and  Unity  of  the  Church  to 
appoint  me,  at  the  sole  Instance  of  Dr.  Kearsley  &  Peter  Evans,  after  they 
had  agreed  upon  &  signed  a  Letter  to  Your  Lordship  wherein  nothing  was 
inserted  save  an  Information  of  Mr.  Cummins'  Death  and  of  their  being 
ready  to  supply  the  Place  till  a  Successor  should  be  appointed  to  save  them  ■ 


229  [i74i- 

the  trouble  travelling  in  Winter  Time  and  of  being  absent  from  their  own 
Churches  ; — after  such  a  Letter  as  this  was  signed  they  were  induced  from 
something  Dr.  Kearsley  said  to  add  the  clause  about  me  without  making  any 
Enquiry  into  the  Truth  of  what  was  advanced,  taking  it  for  granted  on  the 
Testimony  of  the  Doctor  and  Peter  Evans. 

After  this  Discovery  I  was  at  a  loss  how  to  proceed.  I  was  astonished  at 
the  Baseness  of  those  Two  Gentlemen  and  at  the  Weakness  of  my  Brethren. 
I  knew  such  unfair  Dealings  would  inflame  the  Congregation  and  effect  the 
Character  of  the  Missionaries,  neither  of  which  were  agreeable  to  me.  To 
prevent  these  Inconveniences  I  communicated  the  affair  to  Ten  Members  of 
the  Vestry  &  desir'd  them  to  proceed  in  it  so  as  might  best  prevent  a  breach 
of  Peace  and  at  the  same  time  consult  the  Good  of  the  Clergy  and  shew  due 
regard  &  Tenderness  for  them.  What  was  done  in  consequence  of  this  I  am 
inform'd  has  been  communicated  to  Your  Lordship  by  Mr.  Ross  &  Mr.  Back- 
house, for  the  time  wou'd  not  allow  to  apply  to  the  other  Missionaries  who 
lived  a  distance  from  one  another. 

I  will  add  no  more  than  that  if  1  am  thought  worthy  of  Your  Lordship's 
appointment,  I  shall  pay  all  ready  Obedience  to  Your  Lordship's  commands. 
I  shall  endeavor  to  deserve  the  Affection  of  my  Brethren  &  promote  in  the 
best  manner  I  can  the  Good  of  Souls  and  the  Interest  of  the  Establish'd 
Church  being. 

May  it  please  Your  Lordship, 

Your  Lordship's 

Most  dutiful  &  most 

Faithful  humble  Servant, 

RICHARD  PETERS. 


I742-]  230 

Mr.   E.   ROSS  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  March  15,  1744. 
Reverend  Sir, 

I  have  chiefly  (thro'  the  assistance  of  God)  supplied 
the  Vacancy  at  Philadelphia  since  September  last,  at  the  earnest  request  of 
the  Congregation,  who  really  expected  a  Minister  from  England  last  Fall  and 
if  they  had  wholly  depended  on  the  assistance  of  the  missionaries,  many  of 
whom  live  a  great  many  miles  off,  must  have  often  been  disappointed  by  the 
badness  of  the  Weather  in  Winter  Season.  Since  my  first  coming  here  I 
have  Baptized  upwards  of  100  Persons,  18  of  whom  were  adults,  12  were 
Negroes  Men  &  Women,  who  appear'd  publickly  before  ye  Congregation  & 
were  examined  in  &  said  their  catechisms  to  the  admiration  of  all  that  heard 
them,  nine  of  them  I  baptized  together  the  1 7th  Jan'y  last,  the  like  sight  never 
before  seen  in  Philada  Church.  *  *  * 
I  am  Revd  Dear  Sir, 

Your  most  obliged  &  obed'  Hb'le  Serv1, 

^:neas  ross. 


M".   GEO.  ROSS  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

New  Castle,  March  4,  1 744. 
Reverend  Sir, 

We  have  a  Society  erected  here  upon  Whitefield's  plan ; 
it  consists  of  various  professions  ;  but  its  heat  seems  to  cool,  tho'  industriously 
supported  by  a  new  sett  of  Itinerant  Preachers  &  pretended  reformers  from 
the  Presbytery :  who,  because  they  preach  loud,  long  &  thunder  out  hell  & 
damnation,  are  caress'd  &  followed  by  the  weaker  sort  as  inspir'd  persons, 
but  nihil  vehemens  est  durabile. 


231  [1742. 

Your  young  Missionary  Eneas  Ross  has  engaged  himself  in  a  different 
task  at  Philadelphia.  If  he  had  not  undertaken  the  cure  of  the  Church  there, 
it  must  have  remain'd  desolate,  the  consequence  of  which  can  easily  be 
guess'd  at  by  those  who  know  the  fickle  temper  of  many  of  the  Church  pro- 
fessors in  that  place.  The  weight  of  the  charge  there  is  so  heavy  that  the 
young  missionary  is  like  to  sink  under  it,  by  running  the  risk  of  a  deep  con- 
sumption. I  hope  my  Lord  of  London  will  speedily  relieve  him.  'Tis  enough 
for  me  to  tell  you  that  his  good  behaviour  &  extraordinary  diligence  renders 
him  a  credit  to  the  mission.  I  intend  to  supply  for  him  the  vacant  Churches 
adjacent  to  me  during  his  continuance  at  Philadelphia ;  which  I  cannot  desire 
should  be  long.     I  remain,  Revd  Sir,  Your  most  obed1  Serv1. 

GEO.  ROSS. 

P.  S. — The  numbers  of  communicants  here  have  not  encreased  since  my 
last  to  you  ;  the  Country  being  unhinged  from  their  former  ways,  by  a  torrent 
of  enthusiasm,  nor  has  some  of  my  flock  escaped  the  infection  but  the  Tide 
seems  to  turn. 


M'\'  E.  ROSS  to   the    Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philada,  22  Novr,  1742. 
Reverend  Sir, 

I  have  also  to  acquaint  the  Society  of  one  Mr.  Ebenezer  Kennersley,  some 
time  ago  a  Preacher  amongst  the  Baptists  in  this  city,  but  is  now  a  constant 
&  professed  Churchman,  a  man  of  an  unblemish'd  character  in  this  Province. 
He  has  a  great  inclination  of  becoming  one  of  the  Societie's  Missionaries,  but 
his  wanting  the  Greek  &  Latin  Tongues,  hinders  him  from  visiting  London 
for  Holy  Orders.  If  Sir  you  are  of  opinion  that  his  deficiency  in  the  Lan- 
guages might  be  dispens'd  with  &  that  he  might  be  admitted  into  Holy 
Orders  he  would  visit  England  forthwith.         *         *         * 

Reverend  Sir, 

Your  most  Obed'  Serv\ 

iENEAS  ROSS. 


1 742-]  232 

M\    BACKHOUSE    to    the    Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 
Reverend  Sir, 


Chester,  June  14,  1742. 


I  believe  more  care  is  taken  over  our  children  in   instruct- 
ing them  in  their  catechism  in  the  doctrine  &  discipline  of  our  Church  than 
any  where  else  in  the  Province  ;  by  our  vigilant  master  Mr.  Fortescue,  which 
raises  ye  envy  &  whets  ye  malice  of  ye  Quakers,  who  still  maintain  their  Popish 
master  purely  in  opposition  to  ours.     This  Province  is  now  becoming  exceed- 
ing populous,  and  there  are  many  large    Congregations  of   Church  people 
who  being  quite  destitute  of  Church  of  England  Ministers  are  to  their  great 
grief  obliged  to  herd  among  the  Presbyterians.     And  were  ye  Society  able  to 
open  a  new  mission  I  am  sure  no  ['ace  can  want  more  than  the  Town  of 
Lancaster  &  the  Church  at  Pequea  ;  and  tho'   there  are  many  large  Congre- 
gations besides  those,  a  clergyman  settled  back  there  might  in  some  measure 
supply  them  on  a  working  day  of  the  week  as  I  used  to  serve  Pequea.      To 
give  you  some  idea  of  the  populousness  of  this  part  of  our  Province,  there 
are  in  Chester  County  17  or  18  Quaker  Meeting  Houses  &  7  settled  Presby- 
terian Teachers  besides  Baptists  &  other  sects  &   of  late  ye  Popish  Priests 
appear  pretty  numerous,  one  of  wch  comes  once  a  month  to  a  place  just  with- 
in a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  my  Church  at  Concord,  and  I'm  inform'd  by  several 
good  hands  that  they  have  the   same  yearly  Salaries  allow'd   them   by   their 
Propogators  that  our  Missionaries  have  from   our  Society,  and   in  Lancaster 
County  besides  all  ye  different  Sects  of  Dutch  which  are  very  numerous,  there 
are  1 2  settled  Presbyterian  Teachers.     In  Lancaster  Town   there   is   a  Priest 
settled  where  they  have  bought  some  Lotts  &  are  building  a  Mass  House  and 
another  Itinerant  Priest  that  goes  back  in  ye  Country.     This  is  a  just  &  faith- 
ful account  which  I  received  last  February  in  Lancaster  Town  from  ye  Protho- 
notary  &  some  of  the  principal  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  that  County.  :; 

You  must  know  that  there  are  a  sett  of  Presbyterian  Preachers  who  make 
it  their  business  to  run  about  the  Country  as  Whitefield  does  ;  Now  these 
chiefly  aim  at  moving  the  passions  and  working  upon  the  fears  of  the  People. 


233  LI742. 

extolling  their  own  Holiness  &  boldly  boasting  of  intimately  conversing  with 
our  blessed  Lord  and  teach  that  regeneration  is  accompanied  with  Howlings, 
Tears,  distortions  of  the  body  &c.  This  management  some  time  ago  had  a 
wonderful  effect  upon  the  People  and  where  ever  there  was  a  sober  man 
among  their  Teachers  that  spoke  against  such  proceedings  he  was  in  danger 
to  be  left  by  most  of  his  Hearers  &  exposed  to  want ;  this  was  more  their 
practice  a  while  ago  than  'tis,  I  think,  at  present.  Now  the  instance  that  I 
shall  mention  to  make  good  my  former  observations  is  this,  viz1 ;  Mr.  Sankey 
in  Monada  Township  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  aforesaid  (not  one  of  those 
wild  Teachers)  being  asked  how  his  congregation  stood  affected  in  these 
unsettled  times,  answered  that  he  was  happy  in  having  his  Congregation 
chiefly  to  consist  of  Church  of  England  People  who  gave  themselves  up  to 
none  of  those  wild  notions  &  enthusiastick  ravings  that  some  people  practised 
so  much  and  were  so  fond  of.  So  that  I'll  assure  you,  in  this  Province  with 
relation  to  our  Church  the  Harvest  is  great  &  the  Labourers  very  few. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  Your  very  Humble  Serv1, 

RICHD  BACKHOUSE. 


M\   LINDSAY  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 


New  Bristol  upon  Delaware, 

in  Pennsylvania,  March  25,  1742. 
Hon'ble  &  Worthy  Gent: 

Long  before  now  you  have  heard  of  Mr.  Cumming's 
death.  He  bore  a  most  excellent  character  for  Learning  &  Piety  &  his  death 
is  universally  lamented  by  all  &  particularly  by  us  missionaries  &  will  be 
hardly  I  believe  forgotten  by  any  of  us  while  we  live  &  we  only  wish  that  the 
Successor  in  the  Cure  of  Philadelphia  Church  may  equal  the  worth  of  the 
worthy  Commissary  Cummings.         *         *         * 

In  every  Congregation  some  of  Mr.  Wh d's  disciples  are  lately  settled 


1 743-]  234 

&  their  Religious  Society's  raised  up  in  which  are  put  up  powerful  Prayers  for 
reforming  &  converting  all  Churches  to  their  Communion. 

But  some  Dissenters  that  joyn'd  them  at  first  have  now  left  them  &  joyn'd 
to  the  Church  with  their  Families  &  could  not  bear  their  dreadful  threatening 
against  themselves  for  want  of  their  particular  marks  of  Grace.      *         * 

Your  most  obliged  Servant  &  Missionary, 

WM  LINDSAY. 


M\  JENNET  to  the  BISHOP  of  LONDON 


Philadelphia, 

June  24th,  1743. 
My  Lord, 

I  had  the  honor  of  Your  Lordship's  Letter  dated  Jany  4,  1743,  from  White- 
hall with  a  Commission,  &c,  for  which  I  return  humble  thanks.  I  have 
received  from  Mr.  Cumins'  Executors  a  printed  Copy  of  Your  Lordship's 
Commission  from  the  King  ;  and  Your  Lordship  may  depend  upon  my  best 
Endeavors  to  answer  Your  Expectation  in  executing  the  Trust  You  have 
reposed  in  me.  But  I  am  apprehensive  of  an  objection  from  the  Clergy  of 
the  Lower  Country  upon  Delaware,  because  they  are  mentioned  particularly 
in  Mr.  Cumins's  Commission,  not  in  mine,  and  those  Countys  are  a  distinct 
Government  from  that  of  Pensilvania.  The  heat  is  so  excessive  at  this  time 
of  the  Year  that  by  the  advice  of  some  of  the  Clergy,  particularly  Mr.  Ross  of 
New  Castle,  I  have  put  off  the  meeting  of  the  Clergy  to  September :  The 
proceedings  at  which  shall  be  faithfully  transmitted  to  Your  Lordship. 

I  thank  God  my  Congregation  appears  at  present  perfectly  easy  and  at 
peace  among  themselves  ;  which  they  prove  to  be  sincere  and  from  their 
Hearts  by  a  liberal  Contribution  toward  the  finishing  of  the  Church,  which 
hath  been  at  a  Stand,  nothing  but  an  outside  shell,  for  many  Years,  and  they 
are  now  Proceeding  upon  it  with  great  alacrity  and  Generosity. 

The  Box  Your  Lordship  Promised  in  Your  Letter  is  also  come  to  hand. 
It  contains  tracts  much  wanted  here,  and  which  cannot  but  be  attended  with 


235  [i744- 

success  if  seriously  Read  and  without  prejudice.  The  part)-  set  up  by  White- 
field  here  hath  affected  the  Presbyterians  much  more  than  the  Church,  not 
above  two  or  three  of  Character  having  left  us,  but  the  Presbyterians  are 
almost  broken  to  pieces  ;  one  of  their  Preachers  told  me  that  he  hath  scarce 
a  Dozen  Hearers,  when  any  of  these  Vagrant  Preachers  (as  he  calls  them), 
holds  forth  at  Whitefield's  Building. 

There  is  also  a  great  Schism  in  Whitefield's  Congregation,  occasioned  by 
the  German  Count  who  hath  drawn  off  a  great  party  from  them. 

They  hold  distinct  meetings,  and  are  as  warm  against  one  another  as 
against  other  sects  of  Religion.     Whitefield's  Admirers  give  out  that  he  will 

o  o  o 

be  here  soon,  which  I  give  little  Credit  to.  But  if  he  should  come,  God  only 
knows  what  influence  his  presence  may  have  upon  a  fickle,  inconstant  People, 
as  the  generality  of  the  Common  sort  here  are.  In  the  mean  time  I  shall 
continue  to  do  my  Duty  to  the  utmost  of  my  Power,  leaving  the  Issue  to  the 
Providence  of  God,  and  to  that  end,  I  beg  Your  Lordship's  Prayers  &  Bless- 
ing, and  am 

Your  Lordship's 

most  dutiful 

humble  Servant, 

ROBT  JENNEY. 


M\  ROBT.  JENNET  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philada.,  Jany  26,   1744. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  thank  God  our  Church  here  is  in  perfect  peace  &  the  Congregation  very 
numerous.  Our  only  difficulty  being  to  find  room  in  the  Church  for  those 
who  want  seats  &  are  willing  to  Pay  if  they  could  have  them.  And  the 
numerousness  of  our  Congregation  make  the  Duty  exceeding  Severe  upon 
me,  too  much  for  one  especially  of  my  age  to  go  thro'  with  &  indeed  I  expect 
to  be  soon  worn   out  by  the  fatigue  of  it.     This  Place  certainly  deserves  the 


I745-]  236 

Society's  regard  as  much  as  either  Boston  or  New  York  or  rather  more,  be- 
cause being  a  Proprietary  Government  under  a  Family  not  of  our  Church  & 
the  assembly  generally  Quakers,  we  are  not  to  expect  any  favour  in  the  way 
of  a  Legal  Establishment. 

Our  Negroes  also  are  numerous  &  many  of  them  inclined  to  be  Religious 
who  would  be  glad  to  attend  the  Lectures  of  a  Catachist.  And  as  I  am  well 
acquainted  with  the  circumstances  of  the  Church  at  New  York  I  can  safely 
deliver  it  as  my  opinion  founded  upon  a  careful  observation  that  the  noble 
stand  made  there  against  the  progress  of  Methodism  &  Moravianism  &  the 
little  influence  which  they  have  had  upon  the  Young  People, — this  is  in  a 
great  measure  owing  to  the  good  management  of  Mr.  Charleton  in  the  way  of 
Catachising.  So  I  attribute  to  the  want  of  such  a  Catachist  the  great  progress 
which  both  of  them  have  formerly  made  in  this  place  even  to  a  Settlement. 

The  favour  I  now  beg  is,  that  you  will  let  me  know  in  your  next  Letter 
(which  I  hope  will  be  as  soon  as  you  conveniently  can),  whether  there  is  any 
hope  of  Success  if  we  should  apply  to  the  Society  for  such  a  Catachist  as  Mr. 
Charleton  is  at  New  York  &  I  take  the  liberty  humbly  to  beg  your  interest 
not  only  in  the  Society,  but  in  particular  with  His  Grace  of  Canterbury,  to 
obtain  such  a  favour  for  us,  as  very  likely  to  prove  an  exceeding  great  Ben- 
efit to  the  Church  here. 

I  am,  &c., 

ROBT  JENNEY. 


M\   JENNET  to   the   Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philada,  Novr  14,  1745. 
Revd  Sir, 

This  City  is  very  much  infested  with  Popery  &  sysmatical  divisions  among 
the  Protestant  Inhabitants  &  its  influence  spreads  into  the  Country.  There 
is  scarce  a  Missionary  but  complains  of  one  or  other  &  many  of  both  &  I 
know  no  more  likely  remedy  for  this  Misfortune  than  a  Catachist  in  this  City. 


237  [i744- 

There  is  not  in  New  York  the  least  face  of  Popery  &  they  have  made  a  noble 
stand  there  against  the  Vagrant  Preachers  of  Faction  &  Schism  which  I  can 
attribute  to  nothing  so  much  as  the  Industry  of  Mr.  Charleton  in  the  duty  of  a 
Catachist.  To  this  I  may  add  the  great  number  of  our  Negro  Slaves  &  other 
Servants,  not  inferior  to  those  in  New  York  &  daily  increasing,  who  I  am 
satisfied  would  with  joy  attend  the  Catachetical  Lectures.  The  generality  of 
the  Negroes  here  have  a  disposition  to  Religion  ;  I  have  Baptized  many  & 
never  administered  the  Lord's  Supper  (every  month)  without  several  of  them 
&  many  run  after  the  Vagrant  Factious  Preachers,  who  I  am  satisfied  would 
keep  steady  to  the  Church  if  properly  Instructed.  As  to  my  part,  the  Duty 
of  this  Parish  is  so  very  difficult  that  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  perform  it  alone, 
nor  indeed  of  any  one  Man  though  much  Younger  than  I  am.  Nor  must  I 
expect  to  be  able  to  undergo  the  labour  of  it  long.  I  must  then  humbly  in- 
treat  the  Society  for  the  sake  of  the  Church  in  this  City  which  seems  to  be 
a  pattern  of  all  the  Churches  round,  (at  least  to  have  great  influence  upon 
them),  to  condescend  to  appoint  Mr.  Reading  Catachist  &  assistant  in  this 
City  &  we  will  take  care  to  contribute  amongst  ourselves  what  will  render  the 
Society's  bounty  a  comfortable  subsistance  to  him  &  we  hope  to  His  full  satis- 
faction. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir, 

Your  Most  Obliged 

Humble  Servant, 

ROBT  JENNEY. 


Revd  M\   ROSS  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Philada,  May  19,   1744. 
Revd  Sir, 

In  my  last  of  the  18th  of  Novr  1743,  I  acquainted  the  Society  that  the 
Churches  under  my  care  were  in  a  more  flourishing  state  than  when  I  first 
came  to  them  &  that  notwithstanding  the  great  number  of  Dissenters  of  all 


1 745-]  238 

sorts  round  about  me,  Yet  the  Churches  on  Sunday  are  generally  crowded  & 
both  Men  &  women  appear  very  devout. 

My  situation  is  near  Abington  about  9  miles  from  Philada  where  there  is 
one  Treat  a  preacher  of  the  New  Sect  who  has  misled  a  great  many  weak 
People  this  Year  or  two  past.  But  now  they  seem  to  come  again  to  their 
senses  &  to  be  much  more  agreeable  both  in  their  temper  and  behaviour, 
which  was  quite  Morose  and  disagreeable  except  to  those  of  their  own  party. 
Davenport  likewise,  that  occasioned  so  much  confusion  in  New  England  has 
been  preaching  about  in  our  Neighborhood  this  Spring  but  without  gaining 
any  Proselytes  &  the  number  that  assemble  to  hear  those  Preachers  are  not 
half  so  large  &  numerous  as  they  were  some  time  ago. 

I  have  now  to  acquaint  the  Society  that  this  Spring  I  visited  some  people 
in  the  Jersey  at  Sinnamenson  &  Waterford  Townships  Glocester  County,  A 
few  Miles  from  Oxford  Church,  &  preached  to  them  &  baptized  a  few  Infants. 
The  People  on  that  side  the  River  are  chiefly  Swedes,  but  understand  the 
English  well  &  are  pleased  to  have  an  English  Minister  come  among  them. 
The  last  of  this  Month  I  am  to  visit  them  again  at  which  time  they  are  to  make 
a  Subscription  in  order  to  build  a  Church  which  I  am  in  hopes  will  succeed 
well  &  be  a  happy  means  to  bring  a  few  scattered  People  into  a  regular  & 
orderly  Congregation. 

I  remain,  Revd  Sir, 

Your  Most  obliged  & 

Most  Humble  Servant, 

AENEAS  ROSS. 


Revd  M\   ROSS  to  the    Secretary. 


Oxford,  in  Pennsvla,  March  28,  1745. 
Revd  Sir, 

In  my  last  of  the  18th  of  October  1744,  I  acquainted  the  Honble  Society 
with  the  regularity  &  good  behaviour  of  both  my  Congregations,  &  that  I  live 
in  perfect  Love  &  unity  with  them,  &  am  now  in  great  hopes  that  the  rising 
Generation  will  show  themselves  as  Pious  Members  of  the  Church  as  their 


239  ['745- 

Fathers  were.  The  chief  of  the  Old  Standers  of  Oxford  are  dead,  &  there 
appears  in  many  of  their  Children  a  great  share  of  Devotion,  &  please  God 
I  live,  in  a  year  or  two  more  I  expect  to  see  as  flourishing  a  Church  as  they 
were  25  Years  ago. 

When  I  first  Preached  at  White  Marsh  they  were  indeed  as  sheep  without 
a  Shepherd.  But  now  there  are  many  pious  &  good  Members  there — & 
since  we  have  got  a  Legacy  of  ^50  Currency  from  the  Executors  of  one  Mr. 
Murray  who  died  seven  Years  ago  We  have  put  a  New  Roof  on  the  Church* 
of  good  Shingles,  &  a  Cedar  floor  &  a  good  fence  round  the  Church.  We 
have  also  railed  in  the  Communion  Table  with  black  Walnut  bannisters  & 
the  Workmen  are  now  erecting  a  New  Pulpit  &  Reading  desk  of  black 
Walnut. 

The  diligence  &  industry  of  Mr.  John  Barge,  a  worthy  warden  of  this  Church, 
who  spares  no  loss  &  pains  to  see  every  thing  done  decently  &  in  order,  I 
ought  not  to  pass  over  in  silence.  He  the  first  Year  that  I  served  at  White 
Marsh,  paid  me  ^20  Currency  for  the  Congregation  who  had  Subscribed  so 
much  &  more  to  me,  &  took  his  Chance  to  collect  the  subscription  from  the 
people  as  he  could,  &  has  this  Year  also  engaged  to  pay  me  the  like  sum  for 
my  attendance  at  W.  Marsh. 

I  have  also  to  acquaint  the  Honble  Society  that  as  I  am  lately  Married  in 
Philada  I  intend  to  dwell  &  live  at  German  Town  having  taken  a  House  there 
this  Spring,  because  had  I  settled  at  Oxford  Glebe  it  would  have  been  very  in- 
convenient for  me  to  attend  White  Marsh  in  the  Winter  Season,  the  Roads 
being  exceeding  bad  &  the  Glebe  in  the  remotest  corner  of  Oxford  Township 
from  White  Marsh.  Whereas  when  I  am  at  German  Town  I  lie  partly  in  the 
Midway  between  both  my  Churches,  5  Miles  from  Oxford  &  6  from  W. 
Marsh. 

The  Inhabitants  of  German  Town  are  Dutch  save  two  or  three  families  of 
English,  &  they  belong  to  the  Church  of  England.  There  is  a  Lutheran 
Church  &  Calvinist  Meeting  in  this  Town,  one  of  the  Quakers  &  one  of  the 
Minnists.  German  Town  lies  6  Miles  N.W.  of  Philada  a  place  of  considerable 
inland  trade  situated  about  3  Miles  from  navigable  water  for  small  craft  called 
the  River  Schuylkill.  It  stands  upon  a  rising  ground  &  contains  100  fair 
Houses,  and  is  in  length  2  Miles.  There  are  Houses  scattered  all  along  the 
road  from  German  Town  to  W.  Marsh,  and  the  situation  of  the  Church  on  a 
high  Hill  is  very  agreeable  from  whence  we  may  see  it  very  plain  at  3  Miles 
distance  riding  on  the  great  Road. 


1 745-]  240 

I  am  in  great  hopes  this  congregation  will  in  a  few  Years  with  the  bless- 
ings of  God  become  worthy  the  Honble  Society's  notice. 

Our  poverty  after  all  necessary  repairs,  is  such  that  at  present  we  are  not 
able  to  furnish  the  Communion  Table  with  a  Silver  Cup  nor  indeed  have  we 
any  furniture  belonging  to  it.  I  hope  the  Lord  will  open  the  heart  of  some 
pious  person  to  assist  us  in  some  measure.  The  Bible  and  prayer  book  is  in 
pretty  good  order,  but  at  Oxford  they  are  much  worn. 

I  beg  the  Society  would  be  pleased  to  furnish  us  with  a  New  bible  & 
Prayer  book  for  Oxford  and  a  few  small  Prayer  books  for  both  Churches. 

I  shall  be  much  obliged  to  the  Honble  Society  if  they  please  to  send  me 
Echard's  Ecclesiastical  History  &  a  Concordance,  there  being  none  belonging 
to  the  library  of  Oxford. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir, 

Your  most  obliged 

&  Most  Humble  Servant, 

^NEAS  ROSS. 


Rev1  M\   ROSS  to  the  Secretary. 

Philada,  April   17,   1745. 
Revd  Sir, 

My  letters  containing  an  account  of  my  Parishes  I  had  sealed  &  delivered 
to  the  Capt"  &  fully  expected  to  have  saved  the  trouble  I  now  find  myself 
obliged  to  give  the  Honble  Society  concerning  an  unhappy  difference  lately 
begun,  &  to  my  great  Concern  I  find  still  to  subsist,  between  Dr.  Jenney  & 
myself.  As  I  find  from  last  night's  conversation  He  is  determined  to  complain 
against  me  &  to  avoid  any  misrepresentation  that  He  may  make  of  the  mat- 
ter, I  think  it  not  improper  to  state  to  the  Honble  Society  the  rise  &  progress 
of  this  unhappy  difference  &  hope  the  same  will  find  a  favourable  acceptance 
at  their  Board. 

Upon  Dr.  Jenney's  settling  here  many  of  my  acquaintances  pressed  me  to 
marry  them :  some  I  refused,  others  I  married.  But  always  with  previous 
notice  &  consent  of  the  Doctor,  &  gave  him  the  fees  which  He  accepted  & 


24i  [i745- 

received  from  him.  Within  these  two  or  three  months,  when  in  His  own 
house,  I  received  some  slight  (&  what  I  apprehended)  ill  usage  &  thereby 
became  undeceived  that  He  was  not  the  Friend  He  had  professed  himself  to 
be.  But  instead  thereof  found  him  imbittered  at  my  being  in  Town  &  for 
what  I  am  not  able  to  guess,  since  I  declare  that  no  Man  could  be  more  oblig- 
ing to  him  than  I  ever  was  since  his  first  settling  here  &  always  ready  to  serve 
him  unless  it  was  that  after  that  usage. 

I  married  a  friend  of  mine  without  the  usual  compliment  of  giving  him  the 
fees  which  I  apprehended  he  had  no  good  right  to  &  baptizing  a  Child.  For 
my  part  it  was  not  out  of  choice  that  I  lived  awhile  in  Town  but  of  necessity 
being  married  the  beginning  of  Jany  last  &  could  not  remove  my  family  till 
the  Spring. 

However  on  the  13th  of  March  the  Doctor  called  on  me  at  my  lodgings  & 
attacked  me  with  great  heat  about  baptizing  the  Child.  I  told  him  it  was  to 
oblige  a  friend  whose  former  Child  I  had  baptized  &  that  I  thought  nor  meant 
any  harm.  But  this  I  take  to  be  only  introductory  of  the  article  Marriage  to 
which  he  immediately  resorted  &  told  me  I  should  not  presume  to  marry  any 
Person  by  the  Govrs  Licence  in  his  parish  without  his  consent  &  that  if  I  ever 
presumed  to  do  the  like  again  he  would  complain  to  my  Lord  of  London  & 
the  Honble  Society  against  me. 

The  suddenness  of  this  salutation  &  great  warmth  with  which  it  was 
delivered  really  surprised  me. 

I  told  him  calmly  I  had  been  well  advised  that  there  were  no  division  of 
Parishes  in  this  province  nor  any  settlement  of  bounds  for  such,  that  the 
Govrs  Licences  were  general  &  directed  to  any  Protestant  Minister  to  marry 
without  restriction  &  that  I  thought  was  a  good  warrant  to  me  to  marry  in  any 
part  of  the  Province.     Some  more  words  passed  &  we  parted. 

On  the  22nd  of  March  he  sent  a  peremptory  order  (by  his  Clerk)  to  me  to 
leave  the  City  upon  a  groundless  suspicion  or  false  information,  that  I  was  to 
make  Philada  the  place  of  my  Residence,  whereas  it  was  well  known  to  tht, 
generality  of  the  Inhabitants  &  I  believe  to  him  too,  that  I  had  hired  a  house 
in  German  Town  for  the  greater  convenience  of  serving  both  my  Cures — 
which  thing  I  signified  to  the  Honble  Society  in  my  last  Letter  to  you. 

This  treatment  of  the  Doctor's  put  me  under  a  necessity  of  returning  him 
an  answer  to  which  he  reply'd  &  soon  after  received  an  answer.  All  these 
papers  he  threatens  to  lay  before  the  Soc'y,  in  order  to  bring  me  under  their 


1 744-]  242 

censure.  But  whether  I  deserve  it  or  no  I  leave  it  to  their  Judgment.  Upon 
the  whole  I  can  safely  say  in  the  management  of  the  dispute  I  behaved  myself 
with  Temper  &  moderation  &  if  I  have  done  otherwise  &  am  judged  so  to  have 
done  I  will  humbly  ask  his  pardon.  However  to  avoid  giving  the  Doctor  un- 
easiness &  for  the  sake  of  the  Churche's  peace  I  promised  to  forbear  execut- 
ing the  Govrs  Licence  within  the  City  of  Philada  tho'  it  be  a  privelege  to  all 
Dissenters,  Baptists  &  Presbyterians. 

But  still  the  Doctor  is  dissatisfied  because  a  fresh  quarrel  has  arisen  be- 
tween him  &  my  Brother  John  Ross  which  because  I  cannot  accommodate  he 
will  not  accept  of  any  submission  on  my  part. 

My  brother  thinks  himself  affronted  by  the  Doctor  &  to  my  grief  he  is 
resolved  to  carry  the  dispute  to  the  last  extremity.  The  consequences  of  it 
I  dread  to  tell  you,  but  there  is  such  a  flame  at  present  in  the  Church  of 
Philada  that  I  am  afraid  it  will  burn,  where  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  prevent. 

The  Doctor  resolves  to  pursue  his  resentments  &  to  make  my  Father  & 
me  feel  the  effects  of  it,  because  the  other  is  as  obstinate  as  himself,  I  know 
I  have  to  deal  with  candid  Judges  &  what  they  are  pleased  to  determine  no 
man  is  more  ready  to  submit  to  than, 

Revd  &  Worthy  Sir, 

Your  most  obliged  & 

most  Obed'  Servant, 

/ENEAS   ROSS. 


Rev"  Mr.  BACKHOUSE  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Chester,  Sep'  21,  1744. 
Revd  Sir, 

The  Churches  I've  the  care  of  are  very  regular  &  steadfast  in  the  practice 
of  true  Religion  &  I  believe  as  Orthodox  as  any  in  Pennsylvania,  it  being  no 
small  part  of  my  care  to  build  them  up  in  the  Knowledge  of  the  beauty  of 
Holiness  in  the  Church  of  England's  Service  &  how  agreeable  She  is  in  Doc- 


243  [i746. 

trine  &  Government  to  the  platform  of  the  primitive  Church.  This  I  look 
upon  as  the  best  fence  to  secure  them  from  the  wiles  &  pretended  sanctity  of 
our  Dissenters,  &  a  basis  upon  which  an  honest  &  sincere  Christian  may 
safely  rest.  I  continue  my  journey  to  Pequea,  as  I  used  to  do  before  Mr. 
Blackall  settled  among  them,  once  every  four  weeks,  where  even  in  the  Win- 
ter seasons  I  never  fail  of  having  a  large  Congregation.  I'm  in  some  measure 
constrained  to  Teach  school  not  only  for  the  instruction  of  the  poor  but  to 
prevent  the  better  sort  of  my  Congregation  from  going  to  the  Conventiclers 
for  their  education  who  have  opened  Schools  in  several  places  (as  I  am  told), 
by  a  Synodical  Decree,  In  order  to  thwart  that  Tutor  of  these  new  wild  enthu- 
siasts, old  Mr.  Tennent. 

I  am, 

Your  very  humble  Servant, 

RICD   BACKHOUSE. 


Revd  M".    BACKHOUSE  to   the   Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Chester,  Ap1  23,   1746. 
Revd  Sir, 

For  in  the  beginning  of  my  time  here  I  was  hunted  as  a  wild  beast  to  be 
run  down  or  drove  away  from  this  place  by  the  Quakers  &  the  Presbyterian 
Dissenters  &  indeed  I  had  but  about  two  or  three  of  all  my  Congregation  that 
either  were  so  honest  or  Zealously  bold  as  to  dare  to  open  their  mouths  in  my 
behalf  when  they  saw  me  grossly  abused.  But  thro'  an  inoffensive  conduct 
&  yet  without  truckling  to  those  beasts  (such  to  be  sure  as  Sl  Paul  met  with 
at  Ephesus),  I  have  weather'd  the  point  &  they  not  only  now  let  me  alone, 
But  by  the  blessing  of  God  (to  their  great  mortification),  They  see  my  people 
more  confirmed  together  with  an  addition  of  numbers  more  or  less  some  late 
Years  past.  I  might  say  a  great  deal  more  upon  this  particular  but  being 
foreign  to  my  point  at  present  &  more  fit  for  a  private  conversation  I  proceed. 
In  my  last  I  acquainted  you  that  my  Congregation  at  Pequea  had  purchased 


1 747-]  244 

fifty  Acres  of  Land  for  a  Glebe  which  was  commodiously  situated  &  I  now  can 
inform  you  that  their  good  Friend  the  Gentlewoman  /  had  heretofore  men- 
tioned in  my  Letters  to  you  who  gave  them  fifty  pounds  before  toivards  the  pur- 
chase of  that  has  now  promised  to  pay  into  my  hands  about  the  middle  of  next 
month  fifty  pounds  more  to  go  towards  the  purchase  of  fifty  Acres  lying  con- 
tigious  to  the  fifty  afsd.  Her  name  is  Martha  Byzallion  whose  character  de- 
serves to  be  recorded,  but  yet  it  pleased  providence  weak  as  I  am  to  bring 
that  Woman  into  the  Church  &  to  contribute  so  generously  to  the  Church  at 
Pequea.  I  baptized  her  when  above  40  Years  old  &  she  is  a  sober  pious 
Christian  &  Zealous  for  our  Church.  It  is  not  her  only  but  some  others  that 
have  been  instrumental  to  incite  to  charity  towards  my  Churches  &  I  beg 
you'll  not  think  it  sounding  my  own  praise  (because  I  must  give  you  an  ac- 
count of  things),  when  I  tell  you  that  I  have  not  laboured  only  in  the  word  & 
in  the  doctrine  But  also  in  promoting  the  Temporal  interest  of  the  Church. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir. 

Your  very  Humble  Servant, 

RICD  BACKHOUSE. 


M\  READING  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Apoquiniminck,  March  26,  1747. 
Reverend  and  Worthy  Sir, 

We  are  still  in  a  very  flourishing  state.  Seldom  a  week  passes  in  which 
one  or  more  are  not  added  to  our  Church.  The  heat  of  Enthusiasm  sensibly 
abates ;  for  upon  the  death  of  one  of  the  New  light  Teachers  these  people 
were  so  much  divided  among  themselves  (the  common  fate  of  schismatic  fac- 
tion), in  their  choice  of  a  new  one  that  it  proved  a  happy  means  of  bringing 
many  to  a  calm  temper  and  rational  way  of  thinking.  One  in  particular,  a 
member  of  the  Church  of  England,  who  had  long  been  wavering,  upon  this 
accident  became  thoroughly  fixed  to  our  communion,  and  after  some  attend- 


245  [i747- 

ance  on  the  service  of  the  Church,  he  received  the  blessed  Sacrament  with  a 
true  Christian  spirit  of  piety  and  devotion.  Since  my  entrance  on  the  Mission 
I  have  baptized  twenty-three  Infants,  four  of  whom  were  Negroes,  and  have 
added  a  sober  religious  young  man  to  the  number  of  communicants.  The  Gen- 
tleman mentioned  in  my  last  as  officiating  at  Duck  Creek  still  continues  at 
that  place,  but  his  immoralities  have  become  so  very  flagrant  that  he  must 
inevitably  bring  an  odium  upon,  if  not  entirely  ruin,  the  cause  of  the  Church 
there,  unless  a  stop  can  be  put  to  his  proceedings.  I  have  several  times  made 
free  proffers  of  my  service  to  the  people,  but  for  want  of  a  regular  meeting 
have  received  no  answer  from  them.  I  cannot  press  upon  them  with  authority 
from  the  Society,  the  Church  being  situate  within  Kent  County,  and  conse- 
quently under  the  proper  care  of  the  Missionary  at  Dover;  nor  do  I  see  any 
necessity  for  the  appointment  of  a  Missionary  for  their  particular  service.  If 
however  the  Society  would  be  pleased  to  take  them  under  their  protection  and 
give  instructions  to  those  Clergy  who  are  in  the  neighborhood  of  Duck  Creek 
to  attend  them  as  far  as  is  consistent  with  their  duty  in  their  own  Parishes ;  it 
would  certainly  be  of  real  service.  For  as  in  this  Province  we  have  no  estab- 
lishment by  Law  and  obtain  a  preference  only  by  the  purity  of  our  doctrine 
and  the  testimony  of  our  own  good  lives  and  examples,  so  one  irregular  Cler- 
gyman, whose  desperate  fortune  has  drove  him  to  take  shelter  among  us  will 
pull  down  more  in  six  months  than  a  diligent  Missionary  can  build  up  in  almost 
as  many  years,  for  such  is  the  uncharitable  temper  of  the  new  sect  of  enthu- 
siasts, that  from  the  bad  life  of  one  they  conclude  the  character  of  the  whole 
body  of  our  clergy.  If  the  Society  shall  think  fit  to  lay  the  whole  or  any  part 
of  the  duty  at  Duck  Creek  on  me,  I  shall  very  readily  undertake  it ;  though 
the  poverty  of  the  people  is  such  that  no  gratuity  can  be  expected  from  them. 
But  as  I  have  the  interest  of  Religion  sincerely  at  heart  I  shall  spare  for  no 
labour  under  the  countenance  and  protection  of  the  honorable  Society  to 
promote,  as  far  as  my  poor  abilities  reach,  the  true  knowledge  of  the  saving 
faith  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.     And  I  am,  with  all  duty  and  respect, 

Reverend  Sir, 

Your  most  obliged 

Humble  Servant, 

PHILIP  READING. 


1 747.]  246 

D.  JENNET  to  the  Vestry  of  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia. 


Very  worthy  Gentlemen, 

As  Ye  have  done  me  the  Honour  to  ask  my  Advice  relating  to  the  great 
Change  which  is  like  to  happen  in  Your  Church  &  Congregation,  which  my 
late  Fit  of  a  dead  Palsey  seems  to  threaten  the  very  near  Approach  of  ;  So  I 
cannot  do  less  than  return  you  hearty  Thanks  for  such  a  great  Instance  of  your 
Regard ;  And  indeed  I  must  declare  you  are  far  from  being  mistaken  in  your 
Opinion  of  my  hearty  Attachment  to  the  Church  of  England  in  general,  &  in 
a  particular  Manner  that  Part  thereof  which  is  settled  in  this  City :  I  shall 
therefore  in  compliance  with  your  Request  declare  my  Sentiments,  leaving 
them  to  your  Judgment  as  to  the  Use  ye  will  please  to  make  of  them.  But  I 
am  in  Hope  ye  will  give  me  Leave  to  transmit  to  our  Diocesan  the  Ld  Bp  of 
London  a  Copy  of  what  I  now  write,  because  I  mention  some  things  which  I 
suppose  may  not  have  come  to  his  Ldship's  Knowledge,  either  through  the 
artful  Managements  of  designing  Men  at  Home,  or  from  the  great  Multiplicity 
of  Business  which  continually  pressing  upon  him  may  perhaps  keep  him  from 
attending  so  closely  to  our  Affairs  as  otherwise  he  would  do. 

The  First  Thing  I  shall  take  Notice  of  is  the  Foundation  upon  which  we 
stand :  And  for  this  we  are  to  look  into  the  royal  Charter  given  to  the  late 
Mr.  Penn  by  his  late  Majesty  King  Charles  the  II. ;  the  Benefit  of  one  Clause 
wherein  our  Church  enjoys  at  this  Day.  In  that  Clause  we  observe  that  the 
Proprietor  hath  no  more  to  do  with  our  Church  than  another  Man,  excepting 
that  he  is  obliged  to  defend  her  from  all  such  Insults  which  she  may  be  liable 
to  from  a  Sett  of  Men  professing  a  Religion  widely  different  from  ours.  In 
the  same  Clause  we  find  that  the  Choice  or  Nomination  of  the  Minister  is  not 
left  to  the  Members  of  the  Congregation,  but  they  are  only  to  desire  the  Bp  of 
London  under  their  Hands  to  send  them  one,  or  at  least  that  the  one  sent  be 
approved  by  him.  And  as  I  make  no  Doubt  of  his  approving  the  one  whom 
ye  will  recommend  provided  he  be  one  whom  he  can  with  a  safe  Conscience 
allow  of  (for  every  Bp  of  London  hitherto  hath  done  so),  So,  Gentlemen,  it  is 
your  Duty  in  consulting  whom  to  recommend  seriously  to  consider  how  sol- 
emn the  Business  is  that  ye  are  upon,  in  whose  presence  ye  are,  whose  Cause 
ye  are  immediately  engaged  in,  &  of  how  great  Consequence  the  Election 


247  [i747- 

may  be.  Ye  cannot  but  be  sensible  that  the  Cause  is  that  of  our  Ld  Jesus 
Christ,  &  that  ye  are  accountable  to  him  for  your  faithful  Management  of  it,  & 
therefore  that  all  private  Views  and  Partiality  in  it  must  be  laid  aside : 

As  the  Person  whom  Ye  choose  is  to  stand  in  the  Place  of  God  to  your 
Congregation,  &  dispense  to  every  one  of  You  those  lively  Oracles  upon 
which  your  future  Happiness,  even  eternal  Salvation,  doth  greatly  depend  ;  So 
I  hope  ye  will  employ  your  best  Judgment  in  pitching  upon  one  whom  ye  think 
the  most  qualify'd  for  Piety,  moral  Behavior,  &  prudent  Conduct,  &  that  he  be 
thoroughly  attached  to  the  Church  &  her  Doctrine,  Rules,  &  Way  of  Wor- 
ship. This  to  be  sure  is  the  first  thing  to  be  considered  in  the  Minister  ye 
shall  recommend ;  But  there  are  other  things  also  carefully  to  be  observed  in 
him.  In  the  first  place  he  must  not  be  under  any  prepossession  or  Attach- 
ment which  may  lead  him  into  such  an  Obligation  to  any  great  Man  as  may 
lay  him  under  a  Necessity  of  abetting  his  political  Designs,  which  may  run 
counter  to  the  Interest  of  your  Church.  We  have  an  Instance  in  Scripture  of 
a  favorite  Minister  of  State  under  an  Heathen  King,  who  being  convinced  by 
the  Prophet  Elisha  of  the  Falsity  of  his  idolatrous  Worship  very  readily  prom- 
ised to  serve  no  other  God  but  the  true  one ;  but  with  this  Exception  that  he 
must  attend  his  Master  in  the  House  of  Rimmon :  His  Expression  was,  The 
Lord  pardon  thy  Servant  in  this  Thing ;  Intimating  that  his  lucrative  Post  & 
Obligation  to  his  Patron  would  oblige  him  to  act  contrary  to  his  Conscience  ; 
He  would  run  the  Risk  of  disobeying  ye  true  God  rather  than  disoblige  a  kind 
Patron  &  Benefactor.  I  could  heartily  wish  that  there  were  no  Grounds  for 
censuring  some  Ministers  of  our  Church  on  this  same  Account ;  that  there 
were  not  any  of  them  who  would  lay  aside  the  Parson  (as  'tis  ludicrously 
called)  &  put  on  the  'complaisant  Gentleman  upon  a  more  trifling  View  than 
this  Syrian  Nobleman  did.  But,  Gentlemen,  I  must  beg  of  you  to  beware  of 
recommending  such  a  Minister  who  can  compliment  a  great  Man  with  his  own 
principles,  rather  than  not  oblige  him  in  his  Politicks.  In  the  next  place,  Gen- 
tlemen, ye  are  carefully  to  be  caution'd  against  recommending  a  Minister  who 
hath  any  Slur  upon  his  Reputation  in  regard  to  his  Morals,  lest  Advantage 
may  be  taken  from  thence  by  those  who  are  ill  disposed  in  his  Congregation  to 
Justify  their  own  misbehaviours ;  And  also  an  evil  Report  be  put  into  the 
mouths  of  those  who  are  Enemies  to  our  Church  to  her  great  Damage  & 
Disreputation.  Ye  cannot  but  be  sensible  that  we  are  encompassed  about 
with  Enemies  as  malicious  as  they  are  unreasonable ;  and  that  they  will  not 


1 747.]  248 

let  pass  such  a  Reflection  as  the  immoral  Behavior  of  the  minister  of  the 
Church,  which  they  malign,  doth  afford  against  her.     If  they  can  charge  him 
with  any  Crime  odious  in  the  Sight  of  modest  &  honest  men  ;  whether  relat- 
ing to  Chastity,  as  Poligamy,  Adultery,  or  Fornication,  &c. ;  or  to  Justice,  as 
unfair  or  double  Dealings,  &c,  or  to  Prudence  in  his  Behavior  to  others,  such 
as  Pride,  Arrogance,  Self-sufficience,  or  such  a  Conceit  of  himself  as  over- 
bears others ;  They  will  industriously  propagate  it,  never  forgetting  it  as  long 
as  he  lives,  even  though  the  Crime  may  be  of  never  so  long  a  Duration  :  What 
is  commonly  said  of  a  Woman  who  hath  crack'd  her  Reputation,  that  she  will 
always  be  suspected ;  So  it  may  be  certainly  said  of  the  Minister  of  a  Parish 
that  he  will  never  expunge  a  bad  Character  that  hath  once  been  Justly  fix'd 
upon  him  ;  Yea  though  he  is  only  suspected ;  For  as  the   Historian   makes 
Cesar  say,  that  his  Wife  ought  not  to  be  suspected  ;  so  I  am  sure  no  less  ought 
a  Minister  of  Christ,  who  officiates  in  the  most  sacred  Offices,  to  ly  under  the 
charge  of  an  evil  Imputation.     It  is  true  the  Law  will  not  allow  a  man  to  be 
condemned  or  ousted  of  his  Right  whether  in  an  Estate  or  Office  upon  the 
bare  suspicion  of  a  Crime  and  without  its  being  actually  prov'd:     But  surely 
we  must  allow  that  there  is  a  difference  to  be  made  between  an  actual  Posses- 
sion &  a  Request  to  have  a  Favour  granted :  the  former  hath  a  Right  to  a  fair 
Trial,  &  he  who  hath  it  cannot  be  ousted  without  being  found  guilty;  but  Sus 
picion  is  sufficient  to  put  by  a  Right  to  an  Election,  especially  into  an  office  of 
so  high  Consequence  as  is  that  into  the  ministry  of  a  Parish  which  ought  not 
to  be  filled  with  any  one  who  hath  an  Imputation  upon  his  Character.     But 
perhaps  ye  will  expect  that  as  I  have  caution'd  you  against  such  as  ye  ought 
not  to  choose,  I  should  next  advise  what  kind  of  Minister  ye  may  &  ought  to 
choose.      If  ye  will  look  into  what  I  have  already  written  ye  will  find  your 
Expectation  answered :  I  told  you  that,  as  it  is  the  Cause  of  Christ  that  ye  are 
engaged  in,  &  that  ye  are  accountable  to  him  for  your  management  therein  ; 
so&ye  are  to  lay  aside  all  Partiality  &  private  Views  in  your  Consultation,  & 
choose  that  Person  whom  in  Your  Consciences  ye  shall  believe  to  be  best 
qualified  in  the  following  Respects,  viz.,  for  his  Attachment  to  the  Church  & 
Knowledge  of  its  Constitution ;  &  also  for  his  Piety,  moral  Behavior,  and  pru- 
dent Conduct  toward  all  men,  whether  within  or  without  the  Pale  of  the 
Church.     And  in  Regard  to  these  Qualifications  ye  need  not  go  far  to  find  a 
Person  fit  for  your  Purpose.      I  mean   Mr.  Sturgeon,  who  I  verily  believe  is 
affectionate  to  the  Church,  sound  in  his  Principles,  moral  in  his  Behavior,  and 


249  \MM 

prudent  in  his  Conduct ;  I  am  sure  he  hath  been  a  faithful  &  painful  minister 
to  you,  especially  ever  since  my  unfortunate  paraletical  Disorder  hath  put  it 
out  of  my  Power  to  perform  that  Part  of  the  Divine  Offices  along  with  him. 
I  am  sensible  that  the  Place  &  manner  of  his  Education  hath  been  objected, 
wch  it  is  thought  will  not  admit  of  his  having  such  a  Knowledge  of  the  Con- 
stitution of  our  Church  as  the  Minister  of  the  Church  should  have.  I  am 
informed  (&  I  believe  truly)  that  the  present  Candidates  are  three,  and  that 
all  of  them  have  had  a  Calvanistical  or  Presbiterian  Education :  One  had  his 
in  Holland  ;  and  everyone  must  know  that  the  Classes  of  Holland  are  far  from 
being  fond  of  the  Hierarchy  of  England:  x^nother  was  brought  up  in  Scot- 
land ;  And  it  is  generally  known  that  the  Assembly  of  that  Kirk  are  mali- 
ciously set  against  our  Church;  they  call  -our  Bps  Prelates  in  Derision,  &  put 
them  on  a  Footing  with  Papists ;  yea  they  have  given  it  under  their  Hands  to 
their  Parliament  that  to  allow  them  a  Toleration  would  be  to  establish  Iniquity 
by  a  Law :  Mr.  Sturgeon  indeed  had  his  Education  in  new  England,  where, 
though  the  Church  of  England  hath  never  been  favour'd  by  the  governing 
Powers,  yet  never  that  I  have  heard  hath  she  been  treated  so  rudely  as  in 
Scotland.  But  after  all  is  it  not  possible  that  a  Person  who  hath  received  a 
wrong  Impression  in  his  Youth  may  upon  mature  Consideration  discover  his 
Errour  and  become  a  sincere  Convert?  I  have  found  by  Experience  that  the 
the  surest  Way  of  becoming  acquainted  with  the  Constitution  of  our  Church 
is  by  reading  the  best  Books  written  upon  that  Subject.  I  must  let  you  know 
that  I  have  those  Books  in  my  Study  (&  they  are  not  in  the  Parochial  Library), 
&  I  have  prevailed  upon  my  Wife  to  promise  that  my  Successor,  if  he  hath 
Occasion  shall  have  the  Perusal  of  them,  &  I  am  perswaded  she  will  perform 
her  Promise.  But  if,  after  all,  the  Result  of  your  Consultation  should  be  to 
apply  to  our  Diocesan  according  to  the  Royal  Charter,  I  must  beg  that  you 
will  give  him  this  Caution,  That  he  do  not  receive  his  Information,  or  be  any 
Way  influenced  from  or  by  any  Person  who  will  recommend  a  minister  so  cir- 
cumstanced as  that  he  cannot  or  will  not  act  against  his  Sentiments,  lest  the 
Consequence  may  be  that  he  will  lay  his  Congregation  under  the  unhappy 
Necessity  of  either  differing  with  their  minister  or  shackling  themselves  as  he 
has  done  to  the  great  Hazard  of  an  endless  WYanodinp-  &  Contention. 

Thus,  Gentlemen,  I  have  according  to  your  Request  given  my  Sentiments 
concerning  your  management  in  the  circumstances  wherein  your  Church  is 
like  to  be  involved,  faithfully  by  me,  however  they  may  be  resented  by  you. 


1 747-]  250 

And  to  conclude, 

That  the  Grace  of  our  Ld  Jesus  O  &  the  Love  of  God,  & 
the  Communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost  may  be  with  you  in  this  & 
all  other  your  pious  Consultations  for  the  Good  of  the  Church 
&  Salvation  of  Souls,  is  the  hearty  Prayer  of, 
Gentlemen, 

Your  affate  Friend, 

&  as  yet  faithful  Pastor, 

ROBT  JENNEY. 


The  Secretary  to  the  Revd  Dr.  JENNET  at   Philadelphia. 


London,  Charter  House,  May  28,  1747. 
Revd  Sir, 

Mr.  Sturgeon  is  returning  to  you  in  Deacon  &  Priest's  orders  &  I  hope 
will  answer  yr  best  expectations  ;  he  is  appointed  Catechist  in  Philadelphia  to 
the  Negroes  &  at  the  same  time  to  be  your  assistant  in  the  church  of  Christ 
church  there,  on  condition  that  the  congregation  of  Christ  church  make  such 
an  addition  to  the  Society's  Salary  of  £30  sterling  ^  annum  to  Mr.  Sturgeon 
as  may  be  a  comfortable  &  decent  maintenance  as  they  promise  in  their 
recommendatory  letter  concerning  him  ;  &  he  brings  with  him  two  hundred 
copies  of  the  last  anniversary  Sermon.  I  have  given  him  proper  directions  as 
to  his  behaviour,  not  only  towards  you,  but  towards  others,  also  in  relation  to 
you  as  you  desired.  I  am  sorry  any  thing  should  make  you  uneasy  in  yr  sta- 
tion but  as  it  happens  among  a  crooked  &  perverse  generation  you  could 
not  expect  but  to  meet  with  many  difficulties  from  which  your  prudence  & 
good  temper  will  I  hope  extricate  you.  The  church  at  Staten  Island  was  given 
by  the  Society  at  the  request  of  Governor  Clinton  to  Mr.  Charlton  of  New 
York  before  yrs  concerning  it  arrived.  Mr.  Eneas  Ross  by  his  Letters  appears 
fully  satisfied  with  his  present  Station  nor  hath  he  or  his  Father  in  their  Letters 
to  me  once  glanced  at  the  Church  of  Philadelphia.  I  must  beg  you  to  take 
care  of  &  send  the  letters  to  Mr.  Lindsay  who  is  absolutely  dismissed  from 


25i  [i748. 

the  Society's  service,  &  to  Mr.  Locke  his  Successor  for  I  know  not  where 
exactly  to  direct  to  them. 
I  remain,  Sr, 

Your  very  faithfull  &  affectionate  Servant, 

PHILIP  BEARCROFT. 


M\  BACKHOUSE  to  the  Secretary. 

Chester,  June  26,  1748. 
Revd  Sir, 

I've  now  some  hopes  that  this  Letter  may  be  conveyed  safe,  inasmuch  as 
we  have  some  accounts  (tho'  not  as  yet  quite  confirmed),  of  a  cessation  of 
arms  between  the  contending  powers.  We  have  had  two  Vessels  taken  upon 
the  coast  bound  for  London  from  this  port  (viz:  Philadelphia),  in  consequence 
wherof  all  Packets  &  Letters  must  needs  have  miscarried :  However  this 
ventures  again  to  let  you  know  that  my  churches  are  in  flourishing  circum- 
stances ;  only  as  Christ's  Church  here  upon  Earth  is  militant,  you  cannot 
expect  but  it  will  meet  with  difficulties  &  gainsayers  &  false  professors,  as 
well  as  in  the  primitive  times.  The  Moravians  have  hired  a  house  to  keep 
their  meetings  in  twice  a  month  (i.  e.,  every  other  Sunday)  at  Marcus  Hook ; 
to  which  place  many  of  my  congregation  resort :  But  I  hope  (&  believe)  more 
thro'  curiosity  than  any  thing  else,  because  they  show  me  the  same  respect 
they  ever  did  &  carefully  attend  the  church  as  formerly  when  it  is  my  turn  to 
be  there.  I  hold  it  best  to  keep  close  to  my  own  business  &  the  Duties  of  my 
Function  &  let  them  alone ;  for  some  times  opposition  makes  a  bad  or  silly 
cause  considerable  in  the  eyes  of  the  Vulgar,  Ignorant  and  unthinking  Pop- 
ulace. There  is  no  such  temptation  attending  my  other  churches  at  present, 
but  we  go  on  as  regularly  as  ever  and  (I  thank  God)  I  have  the  good  will  of 
my  Parishioners  and  Neighbours  as  much  as  most  of  your  missionaries  in 
America.  As  to  the  care  of  the  Poor  Children  since  Mr.  Singleton  left  us, 
I've  duly  attended  them  myself,  being  in  number  ten,  all  last  winter  &  found 
them  Fireing  out  of  my  own  wood  yard.    Since  Spring  I've  several  more,  four 


I743-]  252 

of  which  addition  constantly  attend  ;  and  I  am  resolved  to  take  them  under 
my  own  particular  care  &  discipline  for  the  future ;  Finding  that  the  masters 
I  hired  did  not  take  that  pains  with  them,  as  they  did  with  the  children  of 
some  opulent  Families  in  our  Town,  as  the  poor  people  us'd  to  complain  and 
as  I  now  find  to  be  matter  of  fact.  Last  Winter  the  weather  &  Roads  were 
so  bad  that  for  four  months  (not  being  indeed  able  to  perform  the  Journey)  I 
did  not  visit  the  church  at  Pequea ;  But  as  soon  as  the  Spring  dawn'd  I  went 
the  first  time  on  a  Sunday,  &  have  continued  every  fourth  Tuesday  to  visit 
them.  A  prudent  Gentleman  settled  among  them  with  charge  to  attend  also 
by  turns  some  adjacent  churches,  would  be  of  great  service  to  the  glorious 
cause  the  Honorable  Society  is  embarked  in.  As  to  my  Notitia  Parochialis 
I've  Baptized  between  Michaelmas  &  Lady  day  last,  one  adult,  a  married 
woman,  &  $7  Infants.  As  to  the  number  of  Dissenters  they  are  not  much 
lessen'd  ;  for  as  Plantations  (or  as  we  call  them  in  England  Estates  in  Land) 
are  divided  &  subdivided  ;  some  of  the  old  Leaven  generally  creeps  into  the 
divided  parts.  However  I  must  not  forget  mentioning  that  I  have  some  Fam- 
ilies of  late  returned  to  ye  church  with  ye  strongest  resolution  of  liveing  & 
dyeing  in  ye  Faith,  who  formerly  apostatiz'd  from  ye  Faith  and  were  power- 
fully carried  down  ye  current  into  ye  Gulph  of  Quakerism.  As  to  ye  Papists 
we  find  more  in  number,  than  ye  particular  number  of  Families  I  us'd  to 
mention  in  my  Notitia  Parochialis ;  But  how  many  more,  it  is  impossible  for 
me  to  tell ;  However  I  am  not  out  of  hopes  of  bringing  some  of  them  over  to 
the  Church  of  England.  If  this  Letter  get  safe  to  you  I  hope  you  will  be 
content  with  a  taste  of  what  I  cou'd  further  entertain  you  with,  concluding 

myself, 

Revd  Sir,  Your  most  obedient  humble  Servant, 

RICHD  BACKHOUSE. 


M\  LOCKE  to  the  Society. 

Lancaster,  Sepf  29,  1748. 
May  it  please  the  Society, 

I  still  continue  in   Lancaster  County  in  Pensilvania  as  there  is  no  clergy- 


■56 


[i748. 


man  near  that  place,  tho'  I  meet  with  a  great  deal  of  opposition  ;  neither  can 
I  yet  have  any  church.  The  country  is  so  much  overrun  wth  Jesuitism,  Mora- 
vians and  New  Lights  wch  get  ground  very  much ;  as  the  Justices  &  govern- 
ing part  are  all  of  that  disposition, — tho'  here  are  a  great  many  well  disposed 
people,  but  scattered  about  the  country, — that  'tis  impossible  under  the  pres- 
ent circumstance  of  the  place  they  should  have  a  proper  supply.  I  have  con- 
stantly attended  a  Welch  church  every  other  Sunday  at  20  miles  distance,  and 
have  preached  and  administered  the  Sacraments  in  several  other  places  about 
the  country  since  last  March.  I  hope  the  Society  will  not  be  offended  if  I  take 
the  first  opportunity  of  returning  home,  upon  whom  I  shall  wait  as  soon  as, 
please  God,  I  arrive. 

I  am,  may  it  please  the  Society,  their 

most  obedient  humble  Servant, 

RICHARD  LOCKE. 


COMMISSARY  JENNET  to  the  Secretary. 


Philadelphia,  Octr  19,  1748. 
Revd  Sir, 

Yesterday  I  put  my  Letter  for  you  into  the  Ship's  Bag,  which  is  bound  to 
London,  and  I  am  informed  is  to  sail  this  day.  I  just  now  received  the 
enclosed  and  think  myself  bound  to  transmit  it  to  the  Hon'ble  Society  imme- 
diately. I  observe  that  the  Petition  is  not  signed  &  therefore  wou'd  not  have 
sent  it,  if  the  Subscription  had  not  been  sent  along  with  it,  and  I  imagine  that 
the  Society  will  receive  it  as  if  sign'd  by  the  same  persons.  The  County  of 
Lancaster  is  very  large ;  &  what  Mr.  Locke  writes  to  the  Hon'ble  Society 
concerning  the  state  of  Religion  therein  (mentioned  in  the  last  abstract),  I 
believe  is  very  true  ;  But  I  am  humbly  of  opinion  that  he  had  neither  sol- 
idity, temper  or  discretion  sufficient  to  mend  the  matter.  And  now  that  he  is 
gone  (as  I  am  informed)  to  London  by  the  way  of  Maryland,  those  People 
concerned  in  the  Petition  are  not  within  a  100  miles  of  a  missionary  (this  of 
120  is  I  believe  as  near  as  any)  and  if  the  Hon'ble  Society  will  please  to  send 


1748.]  254 

a  prudent  person  with  Books  proper  to  encounter  such  a  sett  of  opinions, 
especially  the  New  Light  Presbyterians  who  are  most  numerous  in  those  parts, 
I  am  of  opinion  that  great  advantage  will  accrue  to  the  propagation  of  the 
Gospel.  While  I  am  writing  this  Mr.  Secretary  Peters  chanced  to  come  in : 
and  he  tells  me  that  he  is  well  acquainted  with  those  parts,  and  that  they  have 
no  face  of  Religion  among  them  in  a  regular  way.  No  Preacher  goes  to  those 
People  (who  are  very  numerous),  but  a  mad  fellow  (one  Craighead),  a  furious 
leveller  who  labours  to  confound  their  opinions  both  Religious  &  Civil.  And 
whereas  Mr.  Peters  hath  some  Land  in  the  Neighbourhood,  he  hath  empowered 
me  to  acquaint  the  Society,  that  for  the  encouragement  of  so  good  a  design 
he  will  give  a  Tract  of  Land  if  he  hath  any  convenient,  &  if  not  he  will  pay  in 
money  Ten  pounds  per  annm  to  the  missionary.  I  am  in  hopes  that  the  Hon'ble 
Society  will  think  the  encouragement  offered  by  the  People  is  considerable,  as 
they  live  far  from  the  market  &  therefore  we  may  suppose  that  money  is  not 
very  plenty  among  them.  I  submit  this  to  the  Hon'ble  Society  to  whom  I 
send  my  humble  duty.  I  desire  that  you  will  accept  of  my  best  regards,  and 
I  am,  Revd  Sir,  Your  most  obliged  humble  Serv1, 

ROBT  JENNEY. 


To  the  Honorable  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in 

Foreign  Parts,  &*'. 


THE  HUMBLE  PETITION  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Townships  of 
Huntington  and  Tyrone,  commonly  called  Conninaga,  on  the  West  side  of 
the  River  Susquehana,  in  the  Province  of  Penselvania. 

May  it  please  your  Honours  Graciously  to  look  upon  our  Humble  Petition 
for  a  minister  of  ye  Church  of  England  &  send  us  one  to  reside  amongst  us, 
&  whereas  we  are  sensible  that  itt  is  our  duty  to  do  ye  best  we  can  toward  his 
maintenance  we  transmit,  enclosed  with  this,  our  Subscription  for  that  pur- 
pose which  we  promise  to  renew  &  pay  every  year  as  long  as  he  shall  reside 
&  officiate  amongst  us,  &  we  make  no  doubt  of  ye  Subscription  encreasing 
when  we  have  a  minister  upon  ye  spot  who  by  his  prudent  conduct  may  recom- 


255  [i748. 

mend  himself  to  those  who  at  present  are  not  so  warm  in  ye  cause  as  we  but 
yet  well  minded  to  itt.  Besides  this  Subscription  we  have  purchased  a  Tract 
of  Land  of  an  hundred  and  eighty  acres  to  remaine  a  Glebe  for  ye  use  of  ye 
minister  excepting  as  much  thereof  as  shall  be  thought  proper  for  a  church 
yard  or  Burying  Ground  &  we  have  built  a  small  church  already,  which  we 
have  called  Christ  Church,  of  thirty  feet  long  &  twenty  wide  upon  the  same 
Tract.  Besides  there  is  another  Tract  of  Land  upon  the  Banks  of  Susque- 
hana  about  Twenty  miles  distant  given  to  ye  use  of  minister  for  the  time  being 
of  ye  said  church  &  to  remain  for  ever  a  Glebe,  containing  One  hundred 
Acres,  by  the  late  Mr.  John  Huggins  in  his  will  he  having  dyed  less  than  two 
years  past.  We  have  further  to  add  that  there  are  a  good  number  of  People 
members  of  our  church  at  a  place  called  Connidaiguinam  about  Twenty  miles 
from  us  who  offer  to  join  with  us,  &  are  willing  to  pay  ye  missionary  your 
Honours  shall  please  to  send  in  proportion  to  ye  share  of  the  service  that  he 
will  allow  them.  We  humbly  pray  that  your  Honours  will  take  this  our  hum- 
ble Petition  into  consideration  and  according  to  your  wonted  piety  &  charity 
send  us  a  missionary  to  whom  we  promise  to  pay  great  regard  which  we  think 
is  due  to  his  sacred  character.  We  are  in  a  starving  condition  for  ye  spiritual 
nourishment  of  our  Souls  nor  can  we  ever  hear  Divine  Service  without  trav- 
elling many  miles.  Mr.  Locke  is  the  nearest  by  much  &  he  above  Forty  miles 
from  us.  We  dread  to  think  of  our  children  being  brought  up  in  ignorance 
as  to  all  Divine  Knowledge  &  it  cuts  us  to  the  very  harte  to  see  our  poor 
Infants  dye  without  being  made  members  of  Christ  by  Baptism.  We  are  not 
willing  to  take  up  much  of  your  Honours'  time  and  therefore  state  our  case  as 
briefly  as  we  can.  We  pray  God  to  put  itt  in  your  Hearts  to  consider  us  & 
that  he  will  reward  your  pious  &  charitable  care  for  ye  churches  in  America  is 
the  hearty  prayers  of, 

May  it  please  your  Honours, 

Your  most  obedient  &  humble  Servants. 
October  ye  3  day,  1 748. 


I748-]  256 

GOVERNOR  THOMAS  to  the  BISHOP  of  EXETER. 


Turville  Park,  near  Henley,  April  23,  1748. 
My  Lord, 

I  had  this  morning  the  Honor  of  your  Lordship's  Letter  of  the  21st  ins', 
relating  to  the  Palatines  settled  in  Pennsylvania.     The  Germans  in  that  Prov- 
ince are  I  believe  three  fifths  of  the  whole  People,  and  by  their  Industry  & 
Frugality  have  been  the  principal  Instruments  of  raising  it  to  its  present  flour- 
ishing condition  beyond  any  of  His  Majesty's  Colonys  in  North   America. 
They  all  take  the  Oaths  of  Allegiance  to"  the  King  of  Great  Brittain  in  the 
presence  of  the  Governour.  before  they  are  permitted  to  make  a  settlement, 
and  as  far  as  I  am  capable  of  judging  from  nine  years'  residence  in  that  Coun- 
try, are  like  to  continue  as  true  to  His  Majesty  and  as  useful  to  the  British 
Nation  as  any  of   His  Majesty's  natural  born   Subjects.      They    fled   from 
oppression,  and  after  having   tasted  the  sweets  of  a  British  Constitution,  it 
does  not  seem  probable  to  me  that  they  will  ever  look  back  to  their  old  mas- 
ters.    Great  numbers  of  them  are  possessed  of  considerable  Plantations ;  but 
whether  the  people  of  circumstances  amongst  them  be  principally  Lutherans 
Calvinists,  Anabaptists,  Moravians,  Memnonists  (a  sort  of  Quakers),  or  Sab- 
batarians I  can  not  say,  nor  can  I  make  any  judgment  of  the  number  of  Cal- 
vinists in   particular.      The  Germans  imported  with  them  all  the  Religious 
whimsies  of  their  country,  and  I  believe  have  subdivided  since  their  arrival 
there  ;  for  of  the  Names  of  some  of  them  I  never  heard  in  any  other  Country. 
As  to  the  Calvinists  in  particular,  the  subject  of  your  Lordship's  Enquiry,  they 
had  erected  the  shell  of  a  very  pretty  Brick  Building  for  their  Religious  wor- 
ship in   the  city  of  Philadelphia,  just  before  I  left  the  place ;  but  the  minister 
told  me,  that  they  should  not  be  able  to  raise  money  sufficient  amongst  them- 
selves to  finish  it.     They  have  another  small  church  in  a  Town  called  Lancas- 
ter 70  miles  distant  from  the  City  and  I  believe  several  more  in  other  parts  of 
the  country ;  but  I  cannot  take  upon  me  to  say  how  well  they  are  supply'd 
with  ministers  or  what  condition  they  are  in  to  support  them.    I  know  of  many 
Lutheran  ministers  in  that  country,  who  seem  to  live  decently,  but  whether  by 
subscriptions  from   their  own  congregations  or  from  Germany  I  was  never 
informed.     Upon   the  whole  I  am  of  opinion  that  the  charity  desired  may  be 


257  [i749. 

well  bestowed  for  a  few  years ;  for  the  nearer  the  several  Religious  Societies 
in  that  country  are  kept  to  a  Balance,  the  less  danger  there  will  be  of  the  Ger- 
mans throwing  off  their  allegiance  to  the  crown  of  Great  Britain,  but  if  I 
might  be  permitted  to  advise,  the  money  raised  for  this  purpose  should  be 
lodged  in  a  safe  hand  in  London  subject  to  the  Draft  of  Mr.  William  Allen,  a 
considerable  merchant  and  a  very  worthy  honest  Gentleman,  in  Philadelphia 
that  he  might  see  it  regularly  apply'd  to  the  uses  intended.  As  I  thought  that 
your  Lordship  might  expect  an  immediate  answer,  I  chose  to  give  this  short 
and  incorrect  account  now  rather  than  a  longer  out  of  time. 

After  a  life  of  hurry  for  some  years  past  I  am  much  pleased  with  my  pres- 
ent country  retirement  and  should  your  Lordship  have  any  call  to  Oxford  I 
shall  think  it  a  very  great  favour  if  you  will  step  a  little  out  of  the  common 
Road  to  take  a  Bed  and  a  piece  of  mutton  with  me.  I  was  very  desirous  of 
paying  my  compliments  to  the  Bishop  of  Peterborough  before  I  left  London  ; 
but  being  disappointed  of  your  Lordship's  introduction  by  your  being  from 
home,  I  must  defer  it  until  next  Winter.  I  am  with  the  perfectest  respect  & 
esteem,  my  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  most  obedient 

and  most  humble  Servant, 

GEO:  THOMAS. 


M\    BACKHOUSE  to  the   Secretary. 

Chester,  June  25th,   1749. 
Revd  Sir, 

We  have  a  Swedish  Minister  that  used  to  be  of  Good  Service  to  our  re- 
mote Congregations  in  this  county  road  ;  and  his  People  will  not  be  easy 
(tho'  Mr.  Ross  is  within  six  miles  of  their  Church)  without  I  would  come  among 
them  as  often  as  possible  not  neglecting  more  than  was  reasonable  my  own 
Cure.  I  have  therefore  been  twice  with  the  consent  and  approbation  of  my 
Congregations,  Because  before  my  coming  here,  my  Congregations  had  no 
assistance  but  from  the  minister  of  that  Congregation,  I  therefore  at  their  Im- 


1 749-]  258 

portunity  (as  I  said  before)  have  been  twice  with  them  where  I  have  had 
crowded  audiences ;  so  that  some  Gentlemen  made  their  Remarks,  That  if 
Mr.  Whitfield  had  been  there  instead  of  me,  he  would  have  put  in  his  Journal 
the  number  of  Three  or  four  thousand.  But  I  say  no  such  thing  neither  could 
there  be  any  such  number  only  I  say  there  were  large  Congregations. 


CONGREGATION  OF    BANGOR    CHURCH   to  the 

Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Caernarvan,  Pensylvania, 

October  23rd,  1749. 
We  have  had  but  small  supplys  until  the  arrival  of  ye  Revd  Mr.  Locke  who 
hath  been  very  Diligent  every  other  Sunday  for  the  most  part  in  ministering 
unto  us  the  means  of  Salvation  but  he  being  dissatisfied  to  live  in  this  prov- 
ince hath  immediately  upon  the  Cessation  of  Arms  left  us  quite  destitute  of 
any  relief  or  any  hopes  thereof  at  present,  and  there  being  another  Church 
built  at  Pequea  which  is  about  Eight  miles  distant  from  ours  and  is  in  the 
same  deplorable  condition. 


Mr.    ROSS  to   the    Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Oxford,  Octr  5th,   1749. 
Reverend  Sir, 

They  complain  of  my  living  at  the  Glebe  of  Oxfd  &  create  me  a  good  deal 
of  Uneasiness  on  that  account,  when  after  a  year's  living  at  German  Town,  to 


259  [1749. 

please  them  I  was  obliged  to  remove  to  Oxfd  ;  where  my  Salary  does  but  just 
maintain  my  Family.  The  place  is  very  poor,  &  but  half  of  the  lands  inclosed, 
But  I  have  told  the  People  of  Whitemarsh  that  if  they  would  purchase  or  rent 
another  Place  between  the  2  Churches,  I  would  give  them  half  my  time,  with 
which  if  they  do  not  comply,  I  hope  the  Honorable  Society  will  either  provide 
for  me  elsewhere,  or  that  they  may  be  contented  with  a  smaller  portion  of  my 
Service.  I  cannot  exert  myself  beyond  my  natural  Strength,  my  Constitution 
is  but  tender  at  the  best  &  have  been  so  poorly  this  summer  that  I  could  hard- 
ly go  through  my  service,  but  with  difficulty,  but  thank  God,  I  am  now  much 
better. 


Mrs.   BACKHOUSE  to  the   Secretary. 


Chester,  Decr  4th,  1749. 
Reverend  Sir, 

Give  me  leave  to  acquaint  you  that  I  am  the  Sorrowful  Widow  of  Richard 
Backhouse,  late  Missionary  at  Chester  in  Pensylvania.  He  departed  this 
Life  the  19th  day  of  November  last,  having  first  obtained  a  good  report  by  his 
long  &  painful  labours  in  his  Master's  Vineyard  among  all  sorts  and  degrees 
of  People.  Besides  three  different  Cures,  he  served  a  Congregation  at  Peaquey 
once  a  month  for  several  years  ;  and  many  difficulties  and  inconveniences,  he 
struggled  with  in  a  long  &  tedious  Journey  (it  being  four  score  miles  in  going 
&  returning)  gradually  impaired  his  health  &  brought  him  to  finish  his  Course 
at  an  age  wherein  he  might  have  a  prospect  of  much  longer  continuance. 
Thus  having  spent  the  flower  of  his  days  in  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  great 
trust  reposed  in  him,  will  justify,  I  hope,  my  humble  address  to  the  Honorable 
Society  for  their  kind  regards  to  me,  who  leaving  England,  my  native  Country, 
&  crossing  the  Seas  with  him,  am  left  now  in  a  strange  Land,  without  any 
other  Dependances  save  my  trust  in  God  &  the  generosity  of  my  Husband's 
former  Patrons  &  Benefactors. 


1 749-]  260 

D .   JENNET  to  the    Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  Octr  26th,  1749. 
Revd  Sir, 

The  members  of  our  Church  are  not  the  Richest  in  the  Place,  the  Riches 
generally  centering  in  the  Quakers  &  High  Dutch  who  are  very  numerous  & 
carry  all  before  them,  and  our  Church  labours  under  very  great  discourage- 
ment as  we  have  no  legal  Establishment  (as  they  have  at  New  York)  not  so 
much  as  a  Charter  of  Incorporation  to  enable  us  to  manage  our  Business  to 
the  best  advantage.  And  it  is  a  very  great  misfortune  to  us  that  many  of  our 
people  having  been  born  in  the  place  &  conversed  always  with  Quakers,  are 
so  much  tainted  with  their  way  of  thinking  as  to  have  very  slight  notions  of  an 
outward  visible  Church  &  Sacraments  which. gives  the  Minister  very  great 
trouble  in  many  respects. 


M\    USHER  to    the    Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Lewes,  Decr  26th,  1749. 
Revd  Sir, 

The  Congregation  likewise  of  Chester  have  about  10  days  ago  had  a  great 
loss  in  the  Death  of  their  worthy  Missionary,  Mr.  Backhouse,  and  earnestly 
request  the  venerable  Society  that  a  missionary  may  be  sent  them  who  was 
bred  up  in  the  Principles  of  the  Church  of  England,  for  they,  as  well  as  I, 
agree  in  opinion,  that  those  who  conform  to  our  Church,  from  the  Dissenting 
Church,  do  our  Church  very  little  service,  being  not  stedfast  in  the  principles 
of  it. 


26l  [1750 

Mr.   READING  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Apoquiniminck,  June  25,   1750. 
Reverend  Worthy  Sir, 

This  with  my  Notitia  continued  from  my  last  of  Sept1  30,  1  749  accompanies 
a  Bill  of  Exchange  drawn  on  your  Treasurer,  Mr.  Bethell,  payable  to  Mr. 
Robert  Moore  of  Philada,  merchant,  or  order,  for  ,£75  Sterling  being  my 
Salary  from  26  March  1749  to  the  day  of  the  date  hereof. 

Though  my  situation  in  the  Ministry  does  not  furnish  opportunities  of 
making  conversions  among  such  as  are  litterally  Infidels,  yet  the  stedfastness 
and  good  order  of  my  congregations  in  the  publick  duties  of  Religion  furnish 
abundant  reasons  for  thankfulness  to  the  Divine  goodness  for  crowning  my 
labours  with  a  good  degree  of  success.  It  is  however  a  complaint  but  too 
well  grounded  that  Family  Religion  is  almost  discarded  from  among  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  England  whilst  the  Dissenters  of  various  denominations 
are  very  punctual  in  that  respect.  This  neglect  I  take  to  be  in  a  great  meas- 
ure owing  to  the  want  of  a  proper  form  for  that  purpose  :  and  therefore  hum- 
bly represent  it  to  the  Honorable  Society,  earnestly  desiring  that  I  may  be 
supplied  with  some  suitable  Tract  to  be  dispersed  among  the  People,  not 
doubting  but  that  they  will  readily  answer  the  end  of  such  a  seasonable  present, 
and  take  good  care  that  in  private  as  well  as  Public  they  and  their  households 
shall  serve  the  Lord. 

Reverend,  Worthy  Sir, 

Your  most  obed'  hble  Servant, 

PHILIP   READING. 


i 758.  J  262 

A  Letter  from  M\  SMITH  to  the  BISHOP  of  LONDON. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philad*  County  Gaol,  Febry  7th  1758. 
My  Lord, 

This  will  be  delivered  to  your  Lordship  by  Mr.  Jacob  Duche  a  Young  Gen- 
tleman of  good  Fortune  bred  up  in  our  College  under  me.  He  has  distin- 
guished himself  as  a  Scholar  and  Orator  on  many  Public  occasions,  and  from 
the  most  disinterested  motives  has  devoted  himself  to  the  Church.  He  pro- 
poses to  spend  some  time  at  the  University  in  England  and  goes  from  this 
place  in  company  with  Mr.  Hamilton  our  late  Governor.  He  is  in  every 
respect  a  Youth  of  the  most  hopeful  parts  and  not  unworthy  the  Honor  of 
your  Lordship's  protection  and  notice. 

I  have  heretofore  hinted  the  persecuting  spirit  of  the  Quakers  against  all 
those  who  had  the  courage  to  avow  themselves  strenuous  Advocates  for  the 
defence  of  this  His  Majesty's  Colony  in  opposition  to  those  pernicious  princi- 
ples that  would  tamely  resign  all  our  sacred  rights  civil  and  religious  into  the 
hands  of  a  savage  and  popish  enemy. 

Against  me  in  particular  they  have  had  a  long  grudge  supposing  me  the 
Author  of  some  Pamphlets  published  in  London  to  alarm  the  Nation  of  the 
dreadful  consequences  of  suffering  such  men  to  continue  in  power  at  this  time. 
But  finding  no  pretext  to  distress  me,  though  lying  on  the  watch  for  three 
years,  the  Assembly  at  last  called  me  before  them  and  committed  me  to  gaol 
for  having  reprinted  a  Paper  (in  the  German  Newspaper  under  my  direction 
as  a  Trustee  for  a  Society  in  London)  which  had  been  printed  four  weeks 
before  in  both  the  English  Newspapers,  and  in  one  of  them  by  the  Assem- 
bly's own  Printer  after  consulting  the  Speaker  and  two  other  leading  Members. 

This  appeared  so  partial  that  on  my  rather  chusing  to  go  to  Gaol  than  make 
any  acknowledgments  to  the  House  when  I  saw  the  other  Printers  passed 
over  together  with  the  Members  and  ten  other  gentlemen  who  had  advised 
the  Author  therein  and  some  of  them  eminent  Lawyers  as  may  appear  in  the 
Depositions — I  say  my  Lord,  this  appeared  so  partial  that  on  the  refusal  afore- 
said the  Audience  set  up  a  loud  clap  of  applause.     Every  person  of  impar- 


263  ['758. 

tiality  exclaimed  against  the  Sentence  of  the  House  ;  a  Majority  of  the  Church 
Vestry  and  other  leading  Gentlemen  petitioned  them  not  to  send  a  Clergyman 
of  the  Church  to  Gaol,  offering  any  Sum  Bail  forme.  But  all  this  was  refused 
unless  I  would  meanly  belie  my  conscience  and  acknowledge  wrong  where  I 
had  done  none.  I  accordingly  appealed  from  this  strange  sentence  to  His 
Majesty  in  Council,  at  the  earnest  desire  of  every  person  here  who  wishes  to 
see  the  Privileges  of  Assemblies  explained  and  the  Liberty  of  the  Subject 
ascertained. 

Indeed,  my  Lord,  there  seems  an  end  of  all  liberty  both  of  Writing  and 
Preaching  here,  if  our  Assemblies  will  be  both  Judges  and  Juries  in  their 
own  case,  taking  upon  them  to  Try  Common  Law  Offences,  Examine  upon 
Oath  and  refuse  a  Trial  by  Peers.  They  likewise  fixed  the  nature  of  the  Crime 
as  well  as  their  own  right  to  try  it,  refusing  to  hear  any  arguments  on  that 
head.  The  Trial  lasted  1 3  days,  and  my  Gaol  is  as  comfortable  as  a  Gaol  can 
be,  being  crowded  with  Visitors  from  Morning  to  Night. 

We  are  determined  to  push  the  Appeal  with  vigor,  a  large  Sum  being  raised 
for  that  effect.  Dr.  Chandler  will  wait  on  your  Lordship  to  propose  a  meeting 
between  your  Lordship,  Dr.  Nichols,  Dr.  Bearcroft,  Mr.  Penn  and  Mr.  Hamilton 
to  concert  the  proper  measures  for  defeating  this  Quaker  persecution,  in  which 
all  Churches  and  all  Friends  of  Liberty  are  concerned. 

I  presume  therefore  to   beg  your  Lordship's  countenance  therein.     The 
Case  and  Depositions  will  be  laid  before  your  Lordship  and  if  you  do  not  find 
it  the  cause  of  Religion,  Liberty  and  persecuted  Innocence  I  request  no  favor. 
I  am, 

Your  Lordship's 

Most  Dutiful  Son  and  Servant, 

W.  SMITH. 

P.  S.  I  have  sent  your  Lordship  a  small  Charge  delivered  to  my  Pupils, 
together  with  an  American  Magazine  which  contains  some  account  of  my  affair, 
and  shall  continue  to  send  that  Magazine  for  your  Lordship's  amusement 
during  the  war. 


1758.]  264 

A  Brief  Narrative  of  the  Case  of  the  Rev''  M'\  SMITH. 


A  certain  William  Moore,  President  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Chester  in  Pennsylvania  was  last  year 
summoned  before  the  then  House  of  Assembly,  in  consequence  of  some 
Petitions  presented  against  him  for  oppressive  and  extortionate  practices  in 
his  Office.  He  appeared  before  ye  House  and  delivered  in  a  Memorial  in  his 
own  defence,  denying  their  jurisdiction  in  this  matter,  but  at  the  same  time 
making  it  appear,  that  the  charges  against  him  were  either  frivolous  or  false. 
Notwithstanding  this  the  House  proceeded  to  an  ex  parte  Hearing,  examined 
the  parties  and  their  witnesses  upon  Oath  and  resolved  that  the  said  William 
Moore  had  greatly  misbehaved  himself  in  his  Office  of  a  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
having  been  guilty  of  sundry  arbitrary,  extortionate  and  fraudulent  practices, 
in  manifest  violation  of  his  duty,  and  to  the  great  oppression  of  the  People. 
And  thereupon  they  addressed  the  Governor  requesting  him  to  remove  the 
said  Moore  from  the  Office  of  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  and  from  all  other  other  Public  Offices,  Posts  and  Employ- 
ments whatever,  if  such  be  held.  This  Address  full  of  charges  and  accusa- 
tions  expressed  in  the  most  virulent  terms  against  Mr.  Moore,  they  thought 
proper  to  publish  to  the  World  in  their  Gazette  ;  but  took  care  to  omit  his 
Memorial  of  Defence,  as  well  as  the  Governor's  answer  to  their  Address  in 
which  he  tells  them  "  that  as  common  justice  required  no  man  should  be  con- 
demned unheard  in  any  matter,  that  affected  his  life,  Fortune,  or  Character,  he 
could  not  think  himself  justified  in  removing  Mr.  Moore  till  he  had  given 
him  an  opportunity  of  making  his  Defence." 

Upon  the  Dissolution  of  the  late  Assembly,  Mr.  Moore  thinking  himself 
much  aggrieved  by  their  Publication  and  that  his  Duty  to  himself  and  his 
Family  called  upon  him  to  take  some  Notice  of  it,  presented  an  Address  to  the 
Governor  setting  forth  the  injuries  he  had  received,  and  praying  that  he  might 
have  an  impartial  hearing  before  his  Honor  as  had  ever  been  the  custom  in 
Pennsylvania.  This  Address  Mr.  Moore  thought  necessary  in  justice  to  his 
character  to  convey  to  the  Public  thro'  the  same  Channel  by  which  that  of  the 
Assembly  had  been  conveyed  and  accordingly  with  ye  Advice  of  Counsel 
learned  in  the  Law  (who  were  of  opinion  that  it  might  safely  be  published,  as 


265  [i758. 

it  contained  nothing  which  concerned  the  present  Assembly),  it  was  sent  to 
Mr.  Hall,  Printer  to  the  House.  Mr.  Hall  before  he  would  venture  to  print 
it  had  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  late"  Speaker,  and  two  of  the  principal 
Members  of  the  Assembly,  and  then  published  it  in  his  Weekly  Gazette.  Mr. 
Bradford  another  Printer  at  Philadelphia  soon  followed  his  example  and  pub- 
lished it  likewise  in  a  Weekly  Paper  of  his.  Some  weeks  after  the  Revd  Mr. 
Smith,  one  of  the  Trustees  for  the  Schools  lately  erected  in  Pennsylvania  for 
the  promotion  of  Religion  and  the  English  Language  among  the  German 
Emigrants,  and  Director  of  a  German  Press  set  up  for  conveying  proper 
intelligence  to  these  People  and  promoting  the  noble  design  of  making  them 
good  subjects,  was  applied  to  by  several  Germans  and  other  who  had  heard 
of  the  above  Address  to  reprint  the  same.  Accordingly  it  was  translated  into 
the  German  Language  and  printed. 

Tho'  Mr.  Moore's  Address  was  levelled  against  the  proceedings  of  the  late 
Assembly  whom  he  had  been  taught  by  his  Counsel  to  consider  as  dead  men 
in  Law,  yet  the  present  Assembly  consisting  mostly  of  the  same  Members 
with  the  former,  took  it  to  themselves,  and  looking  upon  it  as  containing  things 
very  severe  on  their  conduct  Voted  the  same  a  seditious  and  scandalous  Libel, 
in  consequence  of  which  they  arrested  Mr.  Moore  by  their  Serjeant  at  Arms 
and  had  him  before  their  House,  where  he  confessed  his  being  ye  Author  of 
the  Address  and  was  thereupon  committed  to  the  Common  Gaol. 

But  all  this  was  but  the  prelude  to  a  severer  stroke  and  their  harsh  usage 
of  Mr.  Moore  served  only  to  introduce  a  more  bitter  persecution  of  a  Person 
agst  whom  they  intended  to  give  a  loose  to  their  wildest  resentment.  The 
Revd  Mr.  Smith  has  long  been  the  object  of  their  jealousy.  The  brief  State 
and  brief  view  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  with  several  other  Pamphlets 
and  Papers  of  which  they  suppose  him  to  be  the  Author,  contain  a  detail  of 
Facts  too  notorious  and  well  supported  for  them  to  deny.  It  is  not  then  to  be 
wondered  at,  that  they  should  seek  the  first  and  slightest  occasion  of  venting 
their  long  contracted  malice  against  this  suspected  Author. 

On  the  same  day  therefore,  that  the  Assembly  issued  their  warrant  to  take 
Mr.  Moore  into  custody,  they  likewise  issued  a  warrant  for  ye  Revd  Mr. 
Smith  on  a  suspicion  or  Information,  that  he  had  been  concerned  with  Mr. 
Moore  in  framing  the  Address.  Mr.  Smith  was  accordingly  taken  into  cus- 
tody by  their  Serjeant  at  Arms,  and  not  permitted  for  some  time  to  speak  with 
any  one  but  in  his  presence.     At  length  he  was  called  to  the  Bar  of  the  House 


1758.]  266 

and  there  demanded  a  Copy  of  the  Charge  and  Leave  to  be  heard  by  Counsel. 
These  were  allowed  him  and  the  Charge  was  as  follows  : 

"  You  are  charged  with  being  a  promoter  and  abettor  of  the  writing  and 
publishing  a  Libel  entitled  The  Address  of  William  Moore  one  of  the  Justices 
of  Peace  for  ye  County  of  Chester." 

The  17th  of  January  was  the  day  appointed  for  Mr.  Smith's  Hearing.     Ac- 
cordingly on  this  day  he  appeared  with  his  Counsel  at  the  Bar  of  the  House, 
but  before  they  were  permitted  to  speak,  the  following  arbitrary  and  unprece- 
dented Resolves  were  ordered  to  be  read  to  them. 
Resolved, 

Ist.  That  Mr.  Smith  or  his  Counsel  shall  not  be  allowed  to  speak  or  argue 
against  the  authority  or  power  of  this  House  to  take  cognizance  of  the  Charge 
against  him. 

2dly.  That  Mr.  Smith  or  his  Counsel  shall  not  be  allowed  to  argue  that 
the  Address  aforesaid  is  not  a  Libel. 

There  were  some  other  Resolves  read  the  import  of  which  was  "  that  it 
was  highly  criminal  to  write  or  publish  anything  derogatory  to  the  Rights  or 
privileges  of  Assembly  and  that  the  present  House  has  a  right  to  take  Notice 
of  such  things  and  punish  those  who  are  guilty  of  such  Acts  tho'  done  in  the 
time  of  former  Assemblies,  and  before  this  present  Assembly  had  any  exis- 
tence. 

After  this  the  House  erected  themselves  into  a  Court  of  Judicature  and 
went  into  a  most  solemn  Trial  and  Hearing  of  Mr.  Smith,  examining  the 
Witnesses  upon  Oath,  which  was  tendered  by  the  Chief  Justice  of  the  Prov- 
ince by  express  order  of  the  House.  A  new  mode  of  procedure  this  !  where 
a  sett  of  men  try  their  own  cause  and  act  in  every  respect  both  as  Judge  and 
Jury.  Before  such  a  strange  Court  as  this,  who  refuse  men  the  Liberty  of 
being  tried  at  Common  Law  by  their  Peers,  what  a  miserable  chance  must  he 
stand  of  having  justice  done  him,  who  has  presumed  to  offend  them.  The 
party  offended  are  ye  persons  who  accuse,  try  and  condemn  him.  As  soon 
therefore  as  the  Evidence  was  gone  thro',  and  the  Counsel  absolutely  re- 
stricted from  speaking  either  against  the  Jurisdiction  of  the  House,  or  the 
nature  of  the  Crime,  the  House  pronounced  a  Sentence  by  their  Speaker  in 
these  words  : 

"This  House  having  enquired  into  the  Charge  against  you,  have  found  you 
Guilty  of  promoting  and  publishing  a  Libel  entituled  the  Address  of  William 


267  [i758. 

Moore  Esqr.  and  do  Order  that  you  be  committed  to  the  Gaol  of  this  County 
until  you  make  satisfaction  to  this  House." 

From  this  Sentence  Mr.  Smith  offered  an  Appeal  to  his  gracious  Majesty 
in  Council,  which  Appeal  the  House  refused  to  admit.  The  Speaker  intimat- 
ing to  him  before  his  commitment,  that  there  was  no  way  of  being  released 
from  his  confinement,  but  by  making  satisfaction  to  the  House,  he  replied 
"that  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  keep  the  Dutch  Press  as  free  as  any  other  Press 
in  the  Province,  and  he  was  conscious  of  no  offence  against  the  House,  his 
Lips  should  never  give  his  Heart  the  Lie,  there  being  no  Punishment  which 
they  could  inflict  half  so  terrible  to  him  as  the  thoughts  of  forfeiting  his  ve- 
racity and  good  name  with  the  world."  He  added  more  to  the  same  effect, 
which  was  so  much  approved  of  by  the  vast  Audience  present  that  it  produced 
a  o-eneral  clap  of  Applause  for  which  several  Persons  were  afterwards  ordered 
into  custody. 

There  was  something  peculiarly  partial  in  the  whole  course  of  their  proce- 
dure against  Mr.  Smith.  It  appeared  from  the  Evidence  that  Mr.  Smith  was 
only  Guilty  of  part  of  the  charge  against  him  namely  the  publishing  the  Ad- 
dress. And  with  respect  to  this  it  is  manifest  that  his  duty  as  a  Trustee  for 
an  honorable  and  noble  Society  in  London,  ought  to  have  induced  him,  as  it 
really  did,  to  keep  the  Dutch  Press  over  which  he  presided,  as  free  as  any 
other  in  the  Province.  The  Address  had  been  printed  by  Mr.  Hall,  the  As- 
sembly's own  Printer.  It  had  peen  reprinted  by  Mr.  Bradford,  another  English 
Printer,  and  Mr.  Smith  could  not  conceive  it  possible  that  he  should  be  called 
to  account  for  translating  and  Publishing  in  his  Paper  what  had  been  printed 
and  passed  unnoticed  in  those  of  the  other  two.  He  accordingly  told  the 
House  and  insisted  upon  it,  that  it  could  not  be  wrong  or  criminal  for  him  to 
do  what  their  own  Printer  had  done  before;  and  done  too,  as  Mr.  Hall  himself 
declared  upon  Oath,  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  three  principal  Mem- 
bers of  Assembly. 

Yet  from  this  publication  or  rather  republication  (strange  to  tell)  is  Mr. 
Smith  sentenced  to  a  loathsome  Gaol,  shut  up  from  the  Common  Air  and 
common  use  of  his  Liberty,  while  the  other  Printers  who  led  the  way,  together 
with  several  Gentlemen  of  the  Law,  who  advised  the  Publication  and  whose 
Names  were  mentioned  to  the  House  by  Mr.  Moore  himself,  have  passed  en- 
tirely unmolested.  Such  an  instance  of  partiality  and  injustice  in  a  sett  of 
Men,  who  ought  to  be  the  Guardians  of  Liberty,  surely  deserves  the   Notice 


I758-]  268 

of  their  Superiors,  and  it  is  sincerely  to  be  wished,  that  the  Appeal  of  this 
much  injured  and  oppressed  Subject  to  His  Gracious  Majesty  in  Council  may 
meet  with  the  desired  effect. 


LETTER  from  M\  STURGEON  to  the  ARCHBISHOP 
of  CANTERBURY  datea,  29  Nov.  1758. 


May  it  please  your  Grace, 

The  remembrance  of  your  kind  and  compassionate  treatment  of  me  con- 
strains me  to  congratulate  you  upon  your  advancement  to  the  Metropolitan  See 
of  Canterbury,  wishing  you  may  long  enjoy  a  trust  which  your  Integrity  and 
other  noble  accomplishments  qualify  you  to  execute  with  Honor  to  yourself 
and  for  the  Glory  and  benefit  of  the  English  Church  and  Nation. 

Your  Grace's  conduct  while  Bishop  of  Oxford  gave  the  greatest  satisfac- 
tion to  every  true  Son  of  the  Church  who  long  have  prayed  for  your  advance- 
ment and  now  we  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  at  its  head  a  Gentleman  of 
Piety,  Orthodoxy  and  a  noble  zeal  for  the  Protestant  cause. 

Those  who  live  under  the  immediate  and  benign  influence  of  your  Grace 
partake  of  the  benefits  arising  from  your  precepts  and  pious  example.  But 
alas  !  we  in  this  distant  part  of  the  world  are  deprived  of  these  great  advan- 
tages. 

The  Church  of  England  without  a  Bishop  is  left  to  the  care  only  of  a  few 
private  Clergymen  who  have  no  person  to  oversee  or  to  call  them  to  an  account 
upon  their  misbehavior,  nor  to  encourage  and  support  them  in  the  best  cause. 

This  leaves  them  and  their  respective  Congregations  to  do  the  best  they 
can,  and  indeed  sometimes  it  is  bad  enough. 

I  would  therefore  beseech  your  Grace  to  use  your  influence  that  some  care 
may  be  taken  of  our  poor  distressed  Church  in  this  part  of  the  British  Do- 
minions and  that  some  kind  of  Order  and  Government  may  be  established 
among  us. 

About  two  years  ago  I  had  several  conferences  with  the  Lutherans  con- 


269  [i758. 

cerningf  a  Union  with  us;  after  which  one  of  their  chief  Ministers  sent  me 
some  undigested  thoughts  on  that  subject,  a  copy  of  which  I  sent  to  Dr. 
Bearcroft  requesting  him  to  lay  it  before  the  Governors  of  the  Church,  but  I 
have  not  heard  from  him  about  it. 

I  have  been  almost  1 2  years  in  the  Hon'ble  Society's  service  and  I  endeav- 
oured to  do  my  duty  with  so  much  fidelity  that  I  gained  the  esteem  of  the 
People  '  till  the  Arrival  of  one  Mr.  Smith  in  Orders.  This  gentleman  has  a 
high  degree  of  Vanity  and  a  large  stock  of  Pride.  This  turn  of  mind  prompted 
him  to  intermeddle  in  almost  every  affair  and  particularly  with  the  concerns 
of  this  Church,  insinuating  how  much  better  qualified  he  was  to  execute  the 
Office  of  a  Pastor  than  the  present  ministers.  This  conduct  caused  some  un- 
easiness and  drew  away  the  esteem  and  affections  of  some  of  the  Chief  People. 

At  length  there  arose  an  unhappy  dispute  in  this  Government  between  the 
Hon'ble  Proprietors  and  the  Assembly.  Mr.  Smith  was  charged  with  interest- 
ing himself  too  warmly  on  the  Proprietors'  side  of  the  question  (for  which  it 
is  said  he  receives  a  Salary),  and  for  abusing  the  Members  of  Assembly. 
That  Body  was  so  much  offended  with  his  conduct,  that  he  was  taken  into 
custody  by  their  order,  and  he  is  now  going  or  gone  home  to  obtain  some  re- 
dress for  his  imagined  grievances. 

During  the  whole  time  of  this  unhappy  but  unavoidable  dispute  I  have 
endeavoured  to  act  such  a  part  as  I  could  justify  to  my  God,  my  king  and  to 
every  honest  impartial  Man,  and  as  became  a  Minister  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land. 

But  from  this  Gentleman's  complexion  and  enterprizen'd  turn  of  mind  I 
am  apprehensive  he  will  attempt  something  to  my  disadvantage  with  your 
Grace  or  the  Hon'ble  Society,  and  therefore  I  would  request  of  your  Grace 
not  to  depend  on  his  information  alone,  and  that  you  will  be  pleased  to  give 
an  opportunity  to  those,  he  may  blame,  to  answer  his  charges  ;  and  your 
Grace  will  then  know  the  Man. 

Hoping  your  great  goodness  will  plead  my  excuse  for  presuming  to  trouble 
your  Grace  with  this  Letter,  and  my  most  sincere  wishes  are  that  you  may 
receive  in  this  World  that  Honor  and  prosperity  your  integrity  merits  and  in 
the  next  a  Crown  of  Eternal  Glory,  with  all  Humility, 
I  remain,  your  Grace's, 

Most  dutiful  Son  and  humble  Servant, 

Philadelphia,  WILLIAM  STURGEON. 

Novr  29,  1758. 


1758.]  270 


A  LETTER  from  M\  MACKEAN  to  D'  BEARCROFT 
about  M\  MOORE  and  Mr.  SMITH  dated  f  Febry, 


New  Brunswick  in  New  Jersey,  Feby  5,  1758 
Revd  Sir, 

Since  my  arrival  here  I  have  wrote  you  by  two  different  Conveyances,  one 
by  the  Pacquet,  and  the  other  by  means  of  a  friend  via  Ireland.  In  them  I 
have  troubled  you  with  a  particular  account  of  my  Voyage  and  other  proper 
occurrences,  as  also  the  kind  reception  I  have  met  with  and  the  happy  pros- 
pect I  have  as  yet  in  my  mission. 

What  I  have  further  to  communicate  by  this  opportunity  is,  that  the  Revd 
Mr.  Thompson  at  Chester  in  Pennsylvania  had  left  that  Mission  before  my 
arrival  in  America,  and  'tis  said  is  gone  to  some  of  the  West  India  Islands. 
The  cause  of  his  going  away  I  am  uncertain  of,  tho,  some  have  said,  it  was  in 
consequence  of  a  report  spread  by  some  means  or  other  that  he  was  removed 
from  the  Society's  service.  The  Hon'ble  Society's  Letter  for  that  Gentleman 
I  have  now  in  my  possession  and  will  return  it  or  otherwise  dispose  of  it,  as 
soon  as  you  will  honor  me  with  your  pleasure  on  that  head. 

An  extraordinary  Affair  has  lately  happened  in  Philadelphia,  of  which,  Sir, 
I  must  also  beg  the  indulgence  to  inform  you  ;  the  cause  of  Religion,  the  Church 
of  England  and  the  Liberty  of  that  Province  (Pennsylvania)  seeming  to  be 
highly  concerned  in  it.  The  Case  is  thus.  A  certain  William  Moore  a  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  and  President  of  the  Court  in  one  of  the  Counties  of  that 
Province,  having  distinguished  himself  about  two  years  ago  in  opposing  the 
measures  of  the  Quaker  Assembly,  by  joining  with  many  others  in  strongly 
soliciting  a  Militia  Law,  which  was  refused,  became  an  object  of  the 
Quakers'  resentment.  Some  time  before  the  last  General  Election  of  Repre- 
sentatives for  that  Province,  Mr.  Moore  was  summoned  before  the  then  House 
of  Assembly  in  consequence  of  some  Petitions  presented  against  him  for  mal- 
administration in  his  Office.  He  appeared  and  delivered  in  a  Memorial  in  his 
own  defence.     The  Dissolution  of  the  then  Assembly  approaching,  they  thought 


271  [1758. 

proper  to  publish  to  the  World  in  the  Gazette,  the  charges  and  accusations 
against  Moore,  omitting  his  Memorial  of  Defence.  After  that  Assembly  was 
dissolved,  Moore  thinking  himself  aggrieved  by  that  publication  presents  an 
Address  to  the  Governor,  setting  forth  the  injuries  he  had  received  and  pray- 
ing that  the  Governor  would  make  enquiry  into  his  conduct  and  if  guilty  to 
punish  him  accordingly.  This  Address  was  sent  to  Mr.  Hall,  Printer  to  the 
Assembly,  who  after  consulting  three  of  the  principal  Members  whether  he 
might  publish  it,  and  obtaining  their  consent,  printed  the  same  in  his  Gazette. 
After  this  another  Printer,  one  Bradford  published  it  in  a  weekly  paper  of  his. 
Some  weeks  after  the  Revd  Mr.  Smith,  one  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Schools 
erected  in  that  Province  for  the  propagating  Religion  and  the  English  Lan- 
guage among  the  German  Emigrants  and  Director  of  a  German  Press  setup 
for  conveying  proper  intelligence  to  these  people  and  promoting  the  noble 
design  of  making  them  good  Subjects,  was  applied  to  by  several  Germans 
and  others  who  had  heard  of  the  aforementioned  Address  to  reprint  the  same. 
Accordingly  it  was  translated  "into  the  German  Language  and  printed.  The 
present  Assembly  consisting  mostly  of  the  same  Members  with  the  former 
looking  upon  this  Address  as  containing  things  very  severe  on  their  conduct 
Voted  the  same  "a  seditious  and  scandalous  Libel,"  in  consequence  of  which 
they  arrested  Mr.  Moore  by  their  Serjeant  at  Arms  ;  had  him  before  their 
House  where  he  confessed  his  being  the  Author  of  the  Address  and  was 
thereupon  by  them  sentenced  to  prison  'till  the  Ist  of  October  next  and  was 
accordingly  committed  to  the  Common  Gaol. 

But  this  proceeding  which  is  here  looked  upon  as  a  most  extraordinary 
stretch  of  power  and  contrary  to  the  constitution  and  fundamentals  of  an 
English  Government  did  not  satisfy  the  incensed  Assembly. 

The  Revd  Mr.  Smith  has  long  been  an  object  of  the  Quakers'  hatred  upon 
several  accounts.  They  have  suspected  him  for  exposing  to  the  World  their 
pernicious  conduct  in  refusing  to  defend  the  Country  against  the  dreadful  de- 
vastations and  cruel  barbarities  of  the  Savages.  He  is,  you  know,  Sir,  at  the 
head  of  the  College  and  Academy,  which  has  all  along  met  with  the  greatest 
opposition  from  that  party  as  they  justly  fear  it  will  be  a  means  of  promoting 
true  Religion  and  Loyalty  and  thereby  exterminate  their  power.  And  what 
is  still  as  vexatious  and  grating  to  them,  and  has  met  with  the  same  opposition 
is  the  scheme  of  the  German  Schools.  These  people  (the  Germans),  who 
compose  a  large  body  in  the  Province,  the  Quakers  had  formerly  under  their 


1758.]  272 

direction  and  therefore  were  willing  to  keep  them  in  ignorance.  Mr.  Smith 
has  been  extremely  assiduous  in  promoting  this  great  design  and  for  this 
reason  also  has  been  marked  out  as  an  Enemy  to  their  interests  and  pro- 
jects. 

The  reprinting  this  paper  (the  Address)  was  conceived  by  the  Assembly 
as  a  proper  handle  by  which  they  might  lay  hold  on  Mr.  Smith  and  thereby 
wreak  their  vengeance  on  him.  He  was  in  pursuance  of  a  Resolve  to  this 
purpose  Arrested,  brought  to  the  Bar  of  their  House  and  after  a  sham  Tryal 
of  several  days,  was  committed  to  close  confinement  in  the  Common  Gaol 
"for  "  (as  they  expressed  it)  "promoting  and  publishing  a  Libel,"  while  the  two 
Printers  who  had  published  the  same  a  Month  before  were  past  unnoticed. 
The  clamor  of  the  People  was  however  so  great  that  they  would  have  will- 
ingly dismissed  Mr.  Smith  upon  making  a  submission,  but  this  he  nobly 
refused  and  when  he  received  his  Sentence  declared  as  he  was  not  conscious 
of  any  crime  "his  Lips  should  not  give  his  Heart  the  Lie"  when  Mr.  Smith 
delivered  this  Speech  the  Audience  gave  a  general  clap  in  applause  of  his 
conduct. 

This  the  Assembly  construed  into  a  contempt  and  had  several  persons 
arrested  and  brought  before  them  who  after  some  sliafht  submissions  were 
discharged.  Mr.  Smith  now  appealed  from  this  extraordinary  and  new 
erected  Court  of  Judicature  (who  assume  to  themselves  greater  powers  than 
the  House  of  Commons  in  England)  to  his  Sacred  Majesty  and  offered  to  give 
any  Bail  to  prosecute  the  same,  but  this  Appeal  was  refused,  and  he  is  still  con- 
fined, the  Sheriff  being  ordered  by  them  not  to  execute  a  Writ  of  Habeas 
Corpus,  if  such  an  one  should  be  issued  for  this  persecuted  Gentleman's  relief. 
The  Case  however  will  be  laid  before  His  Majesty;  but  in  the  meantime 
Mr.  Smith  bears  the  loss  and  injury,  yet  still  is  in  good  spirits  considering  the 
cause  for  which  he  suffers.  » 

I  hope  Revd  Sir,  you  will  pardon  my  troubling  you  with  such  a  long  detail 
of  this  affair  as  I  thought  it  a  duty  I  owed  to  the  cause  of  the  Church,  Relig- 
ion, and  the  Province  that  gave  me  Birth  to  represent  it  to  you,  and  believe 
me,  Sir,  I  am  so  little  a  politician  and  meddle  so  seldom  with  such  affairs,  that 
I  would  not  have  presumed  to  say  a  word  on  this  head  to  you  if  it  had  not 
appeared  a  case  of  the  most  engaging  and  important  nature,  and  a  severe 
stroke  levelled  at  the  interests  of  the  Church  of  England  thro'  the  person  of 
Mr.  Smith.     This  is  a  true  state  of  the  Case  and  unless  protection  from  your 


2/3  [i758. 

quarter  of  the  World  can  be  had,  which  it  is  not  doubted  will  be  given,  it  can- 
not be  conceived  where  these  daring  attempts  may  end. 
Revd  Sir, 

Your  most  obliged  &  most 

Obedient  Humble  Servant, 

ROBERT  MCKEAN. 


LETTER  from  D'.  JENNET  to  the  ARCHBISHOP  of 
CANTERBURY,  chiefly  against  Mr.  SMITH. 


(EXTRACT.) 


May  it  please  your  Grace, 

The  general  joy  of  every  friend  of  our  Church  at  the  exaltation  of  your 
Grace  to  the  See  of  Canterbury  could  not  but  reach  these  parts  and  affect  us 
here,  as  we  are  told  it  did  those  at  home,  particularly  it  gave  me  the  greatest 
pleasure  who  have  long  ago  been  informed  of  your  excellent  Administration 
in  the  See  of  Oxford  from  whence  we  cannot  help  expecting  the  like  or  greater 
advantages  from  one  in  a  more  exalted  station  from  whence  more  good  may 
redound  to  the  Church. 

As  your  Grace  hath  always  been  a  most  zealous  Member  of  the  Hon'ble 
Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel,  &c.,  so  your  present  situation  puts  it  in 
your  power  to  exert  your  pious  disposition  in  this  way  more  than  formerly 
and  we  of  this  Province  have  more  than  ordinary  reason  to  mention  this,  be- 
cause we  cannot  help  observing  mistakes  in  the  Abstracts  of  that  Ven'ble 
Body  which  we  apprehend  arise  from  misrepresentations  from  hence. 

But  what  I  am  most  concerned  for  &  apprehensive  of  evil  consequences 
from,  is  the  practice  of  some  Clergymen  here  to  intermix  what  is  their  true 
and  real  business  with  Politics  in  civil  affairs  and  being  so  zealous  therein  as 
to  blame  and  even  revile  those  of  their  Brethren  who  cannot  approve  of 
their  conduct  in  this  particular.  I  am  very  sorry  to  be  forced  to  name  one 
William  Smith,  who  'tis  said  is  gone  to  England  with  this  view,  and  without 
doubt  will  wait  upon  your  Grace.     He  hath  always  been  exceedingly  busy  in 


I758-]  274 

Politics  and  very  averse  to  every  one  of  his  Brethren  who  will  not  fall  in  with 
his  sentiments  in  that  way.  At  his  first  coming  to  this  place  he  declared  his 
prepossession  against  me  with  a  design  to  trip  up  my  heels  as  he  expressed 
it.  And  he  hath  since  been  very  officious  against  a  very  good  man,  Mr.  Stur- 
geon, who  is  my  Assistant.  But  I  should  not  have  troubled  your  Grace  with 
this  if  I  had  not  been  apprehensive  of  his  endeavors  by  misrepresenting 
things  (a  practice  too  common  with  him  in  this  place),  to  prepossess  your 
Grace  with  thoughts  to  my  prejudice. 

My  Lord,  I  have  been  a  Labourer  (I  thank  God  not  an  idle  one)  in  the 
Church  in  New  York  and  this  Province  ever  since  A.D.  1744  when  I  was  first 
admitted  into  the  Hon'ble  Societie's  service,  and  I  have  not  heard  that  I  have 
ever  in  all  that  time  been  charged  with  a  fault  or  any  indiscretion  ;  and  I  am 
very  unwilling  tc  have  my  reputation  called  in  question  now  the  first  time  when 
my  great  age  and  infirmities  make  it  impossible  that  I  can  hold  out  long.  I  would 
not  care  to  go  out  of  the  world  in  the  ill  opinion  of  any  especially  so  great  a 
Man  in  station  and  character  as  your  Grace.  He  pretends  to  be  a  great 
intimate  of  the  Hon'ble  Mr.  Thomas  Penn,  our  Proprietor,  and  several 
other  great  Men  whose  favours  he  boasts  of,  but  I  am  in  hopes  that  no  great 
Man  will  support  him  in  his  misrepresentation  of  me  without  giving  me  an 
opportunity  to  clear  myself.  And  I  humbly  pray  that  his  forwardness  will  not 
prevail  upon  your  Grace  in  particular  to  entertain  anything  amiss  of  me  who 
am  not  conscious  to  myself  of  having  done  anything  to  deserve  it. 

I  humbly  thank  God  to  prosper  your  Grace's  Labours  in  his  service.    I  ear- 
nestly pray  your  favorable  Opinion  of  me  and  am, 
May  it  please  your  Grace, 

Your  Grace's  most  dutiful  Son  and 

most  Obedient  Humble  Servant^ 

ROBERT  JENNEY. 
Philadelphia,  Novr  27,  1758. 


275  [i756. 

M\  BARTON  to  the  Secretary. 


Huntingdon  in  Pennsylva,  Novr  8th,  1756. 
Reverend  Sir, 

It  gives  me  a  real  concern  that  I  have  never  been  able  to  send  you  any 
accounts  since  I  entered  upon  my  mission  till  now.  Our  distresses  here 
have  been  such  that  in  short  I  knew  not  what  to  write  or  what  to  do.  These 
considerations  will  I  hope  still  support  me  in  your  esteem  and  incline  The 
Hon'ble  Society  to  pardon  me,  as  I  intend  to  be  the  more  particular  now  to 
atone  for  my  past  silence;  I  foresee  a  long  letter  and  must  therefore  bespeak 
an  indulgence. 

After  a  short  and  very  agreeable  passage  I  arriv'd  at  Philadelphia  about  the 
16th  of  April,  1755,  and  immediately  wrote  to  the  people  of  Huntingdon  who 
came  generously  with  their  waggons  and  brought  away  my  effects.  As  soon 
as  I  settled  my  affairs  and  visited  my  friends  I  set  out  for  this  place  about  the 
latter  end  of  May  when  I  was  received  with  a  hearty  welcome,  and  was  much 
pleased  to  find  the  poor  people  fill'd  with  gratitude  under  a  due  sense  of  the 
weighty  obligations  they  were  under  to  the  Hon'ble  Society  for  the  favors 
confer'd  upon  them,  and  what  pleased  me  still  more  was,  to  hear  that  they  had 
struggled  hard  to  keep  alive  some  sense  of  religion  among  their  children  by 
meeting  every  Sunday  and  getting  one  of  the  Members  to  read  prayers  to 
them. 

My  first  business  was  to  visit  and  make  myself  acquainted  with  the  State 
and  members  of  the  Congregation  at  York,  Huntingdon  and  Carlisle,  and  hav- 
ing settled  Wardens  &  Vestrymen  in  each  they  all  met  and  according  to  their 
numbers  agreed  mutually  that  I  should  officiate  three  Sundays  in  six  at  Hun- 
tingdon, two  at  Carlisle  and  one  at  York.  Upon  hearing  that  within  the  lim- 
its of  my  mission  there  were  large  numbers  of  the  Communion  of  the  Church 
of  England  in  the  Settlements  of  Canogochieg,  Shippensburg,  Sharmans 
Valley,  West  Penns-Borough  and  Marsh  Creek,  I  determined  to  visit  each  of 
those  places  four  times  a  year  to  prepare  them  for  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  and  to  baptize  their  Children. 

I  had  the  pleasure  to  see  my  hearers  encrease  daily ;  which  amounted  to 
such  a  number  in  a  few  weeks  at   Huntingdon  that  I   have   been  sometimes 


1756.]  276 

obliged  to  preach  to  them  under  the  Covert  of  the  Trees,  and  when  it  was  my 
turn  at  Carlisle,  lam  told  that  people  came  10,  50  and  some  60  miles.  The 
Dissenters  also  (who  are  very  numerous  in  these  parts)  attended  constantly 
&  seemed  well  disposed  always  behaving  themselves  decently  and  devoutly. 
The  more  rational  part  of  them  appear  well  reconciled  with  our  Church  and 
some  of  the  principal  of  them  offer'd  generously  to  subscribe  to  me. 

I  now  began  to  consider  myself  (as  the  Revd  Mr.  Provost  Smith  expresses 
it  in  a  letter  to  me),  "as  one  who  had  advanced  to  the  very  frontiers  of  the 
Messiah's  Kingdom  and  among  the  first  who  had  unfolded  his  everlasting 
Banners  in  the  remotest  part  of  the  West." 

From  the  advantage  of  my  situation  bordering  upon  nations  of  Savages  I 
entertained  strong  hopes  that  it  might  please  the  Lord  to  make  me  a  happy 
Instrument  to  subject  some  of  these  poor  ignorant  Creatures  to  the  Kingdom 
of  God  and  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  hearing  that  a  number  of  them  were  come 
down  from  the  Ohio  to  Carlisle  to  dispose  of  their  furr  and  Deer  Skins,  I 
made  it  my  business  to  go  among  them  and  endeavour  as  much  as  possible  to 
ingratiate  myself  into  their  good  opinion.  Next  morning  I  invited  them  to 
Church  and  such  of  them  as  understood  any  English  came  and  seemed  very 
attentive  the  whole  time.  When  I  came  to  visit  them  in  the  afternoon  oeths 
that  had  been  at  Church  brought  all  their  Brethren  to  shake  hands  with  me; 
and  pointing  often  upwards  discoursed  with  one  another  some  time  in  their 
own  language,  I  imagine  they  were  telling  them  what  they  had  heard,  and 
indeed  I  observed  them  to  be  pleased  with  the  relation. 

This  gave  me  reason  to  think  that  the  Indians  were  willing  to  be  instructed 
and  were  susceptible  of  good  impressions  ;  and  if  they  found  Missionaries 
divested  of  sinister  and  selfish  motives  they  could  easily  be  prevailed  upon  to 
exchange  their  savage  barbarity  for  the  pure  and  peaceable  religion  of  Jesus. 

Just  when  I  was  big  with  the  hopes  of  being  able  to  do  service  among 
these  tawny  people  we  received  the  melancholy  News  that  our  forces  under 
the  Command  of  General  Braddock  were  defeated  on  the  9th  of  July  as  they 
were  marching  to  take  Duquesne,  a  French  Fort  upon  the  Ohio.  This  was 
soon  succeeded  by  an  alienation  of  the  Indians  in  our  Interest,  and  from  that 
day  to  this  poor  Pennsylvania  has  felt  incessantly  the  sad  effects  of  Popish 
Tyranny  and  Savage  Cruelty !  A  great  part  of  five  of  her  Counties  have 
been  depopulated  and  laid  waste  and  some  hundreds  of  her  sturdiest  Sons 
either  murdered  or  carried  into  barbarous  Captivity  ! 


277  L'756. 

At  a  time  of  such  publick  calamity  and  distress,  you  may  easily  conceive, 
Revd  Sir,  what  must  be  my  situation  whose  fortune  it  was  to  have  my  residence 
in  a  place  where  these  grievances  were  felt  most.  I  repine  not  however  at 
my  Lot  in  being  placed  here;  but  rather  esteem  it  a  happiness  since  I  hope  I 
may  say  God  has  enabled  me  to  do  some  service  to  our  pure  Protestant  Re- 
ligion in  spite  of  its  most  inveterate  Enemies. 

Tho'  my  Churches  are  Churches  militant  indeed,  subject  to  dangers  and 
trials  of  the  most  alarming  kind,  yet  I  have  the  pleasure  every  Sunday  (even 
at  the  worst  of  Times),  to  see  my  people  crowding  with  their  Muskets  on  their 
Shoulders;  declaring  that  they  will  dye  Protestants  and  Freedmen  sooner  than 
live  Idolaters  and  Slaves.  The  French  King  has  rather  served  than  injured 
the  Protestant  Cause  in  these  parts,  For  the  people  have  seen  so  much  of  the 
cruel  Barbarities  of  those  who  call  themselves  the  subjects  and  allies  of  His 
Most  Christian  Majesty  that  they  detest  the  very  name  of  Popery. 

Among  a  people  thus  disposed  I  should  think  myself  extremely  happy 
were  they  barely  able  to  keep  me  above  want  which  at  present  indeed  they 
are  not.  It  is  but  a  little  time  since  these  Counties  were  erected.  They  were 
chiefly  settled  by  poor  people  who  not  being  able  to  purchase  lands  in  the 
interior  parts  of  the  Country  came  back  where  they  were  cheap.  Many  of 
them  were  so  low  at  first,  that  two  families  were  generally  obliged  to  join  in 
fittino-  out  one  Plough ;  and  before  they  could  raise  a  subsistence  were  neces- 
sitated to  run  in  debt  for  a  Stock  and  for  what  maintained  them  in  the  Interior. 
As  soon  as  they  became  industrious,  the  fertile  soil  gave  them  a  hundred  fold 
and  in  a  little  time  rais'd  them  to  affluence  and  plenty.  When  they  were 
just  beginning  to  feel  the  comforts  and  taste  the  fruits  of  their  industry,  a 
barbarous  and  cruel  enemy  came  and  ruined  them  !  The  County  of  Cumber- 
land has  suffered  particularly  and  the  condition  of  its  remaining  shatter'd 
Inhabitants  is  truly  deplorable !  Many  of  them  are  reduced  to  real  poverty 
and  distress ;  groaning  under  a  burden  of  calamities ;  some  having  lost 
their  Husbands,  some  their  Wives,  some  their  Children  ;  and  all,  the  labour 
of  many  years  !  In  this  Condition  (my  Heart  bleeds  in  relating  what  I  am  an 
Eye  witness  to),  they  now  wander  about  without  Bread  of  their  own  to  eat, 
or  a  house  to  Shelter  themselves  in  from  the  Inclemency  of  the  approaching 
winter !  They  have  left  many  thousand  Bushels  of  Wheat  and  other  Grain 
behind  them  in  their  Barns  and  Store-houses  which  must  become  a  Spoil  to  the 
Enemy  while  the  just  owners  of  it  must  either  beg  or  Starve  !     Since  I  sat 


1756.]  278 

down  to  write  this  Letter,  I  have  received  accounts  that  a  poor  family  had  fled 
for  refuge  into  this  Country  above  six  months  ago  where  they  have  remained 
ever  since  but  finding  they  could  not  subsist  chose  a  few  days  ago  to  run  the 
risk  of  returning  home  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  labour,  where  they  had 
not  time  to  unlode  their  Cart  before  they  were  seized  by  Indians  and  mur- 
dered. 

Carlisle  is  the  only  remains  of  that  once  populous  County,  They  have  a 
Garrison  of  about  ioo  Men  but  how  long  they  will  be  able  to  defend  them- 
selves is  very  uncertain  as  the  Enemy  have  threatened  that  place  in  particular. 
They  still  have  their  share  of  my  ministrations  and  seem  extremely  thankful 
to  the  Honble  Society  upon  whose  bounty  I  am  chiefly  supported. 

By  the  reduction  of  Cumberland  the  County  of  York  is  become  the  fron- 
tier, and  should  the  Enemy  carry  their  ravages  this  far  I  shall  be  a  consider- 
able sufferer,  for  upon  my  arrival  at  Huntingdon,  I  found  the  Glebe  still  under 
its  native  woods  and  the  people  not  able  to  make  any  improvement  upon  it. 
This  put  me  under  the  necessity  of  purchasing  a  small  plantation  and  building 
on  it  at  my  own  expense  by  which  means  I  embarrass'd  myself  in  debt,  in  hopes 
the  people  would  assist  me  in  paying  for  it,  which  indeed  they  promised  to  do. 
But  this  dismal  turn  in  our  affairs  renders  it  impracticable.  From  York  I  have 
still  less  to  expect,  as  the  Town  is  chiefly  inhabited  by  Dutch,  and  not  many 
of  our  Communion  among  them.  Upon  the  whole,  I  believe  the  people  will 
be  able  to  do  very  little  for  me,  till  we  have  some  favourable  change,  I  do  not 
design,  Revd  Sir,  by  anything  I  have  said  to  derogate  from  the  merit  of  my 
good  parishioners,  that  would  be  ungrateful,  as  I  have  reason  to  think  that 
they  are  a  worthy,  well  disposed  and  kind  sort  of  people,  who  possess  the 
greatest  friendship  and  esteem  for  me  and  am  persuaded  would  willingly  do 
anything  in  their  power  to  afford  me  an  easy  support  and  maintenance. 

This  mission  in  a  few  years  would  have  vyed  with  the  ablest  in  this  prov- 
ince, as  it  was  in  a  flourishing  state  and  could  not  contain  less  than  2000  per- 
sons Members  of  the  Church  of  England,  But  so  melancholy  is  the  transition, 
that  it  cannot  afford  to  build  one  Church  ;  so  that  I  officiate  sometimes  in  a 
barn,  sometimes  in  a  waste  house  or  wherever  else  convenience  offers. 

I  have  baptized  since  my  arrival  160  Infants,  10  Adults,  and  an  Indian  Girl 
who  has  been  brought  up  in  a  Christian  family  since  her  Infancy ;  after  due 
examination  and  instruction.  The  Number  of  my  Communicants  is  58,  which 
I  have  but  little  expectation  of  encreasing,  till  this  Storm  is  blown  over !     But 


279  [i756. 

I  assure  you,  Revd  Sir,  no  endeavours  of  mine  shall  be  wanting  to  bring  many 
to  Righteousness.  Whatever  hardships  or  discouragements  may  attend  my 
Ministry  I  hope  I  shall  ever  keep  in  view  the  importance  of  my  undertaking 
and  always  strive  to  answer  the  pious  and  laudable  designs  of  the  Honble 
Society  in  appointing  me  their  missionary;  by  doing  all  in  my  power  to  pro- 
mote the  Glory  of  Almighty  God  and  the  Salvation  of  Mankind.  I  received 
lately  from  the  hands  of  Dr.  Jenny  the  Society's  Instructions  to  their  Mission- 
aries in  North  America  which  are  very  seasonable  and  justly  adopted  to  our 
present  circumstances;  and  if  duly  observed  and  properly  inforced,  may  do 
infinite  service  to  our  bleeding  Country. 

I  have  often  observed  and  indeed  regretted  it  as  a  misfortune  that  our 
Missionaries  in  this  part  of  the  World  are  so  little  acquainted  with  one 
another,  And  though  in  the  1 2th  instruction  of  the  Society's  collection  of  papers, 
it  is  recommended  to  them  to  "keep  up  a  Brotherly  correspondence  by  meet- 
ing together  at  certain  times  as  shall  be  most  convenient  for  mutual  advice 
and  assistance,"  yet  no  such  thing  is  observ'd  and  I  dare  affirm  that  many  of 
them  have  never  had  an  opportunity  of  conversing  with  four  of  their  Brethren 
since  they  left  England.  How  many  advantages  we  shall  lose  by  such  a  neg- 
lect at  this  time  of  publick  and  emminent  danger,  I  shall  submit  to  the  judg- 
ment of  the  Honb,e  Society. 

Mr.  Provost  Smith  has  been  lately  up  here  to  settle  Free  Schools,  who  is 
the  only  Episcopal  Clergyman,  beside  Mr.  Secretary  Peters,  that  I  have  had 
the  happiness  of  seeing  in  these  Counties  since  I  came  into  them.  Mr.  Smith 
has  been  pleased  to  communicate  to  me  the  Honble  Society's  design  to 
extend  their  care  to  the  instruction  of  Indian  Children  at  the  Academy  in 
Philada.  Which  good  scheme  I  believe  Mr.  Smith  will  heartily  endeavour  to 
put  into  execution  &  do  everything  in  his  power  to  make  it  answer  the  glo- 
rious ends  proposed  by  it.  If  I  can  assist  him  in  any  part  of  it,  he  shall 
always  find  me  ready  and  willing  to  do  it.  Happy  had  it  been  for  us  had  this 
scheme  been  resolved  upon  many  years  ago.  For  it  is  probably  from  the  neg- 
lect of  this  necessary  duty  of  instructing  the  Indians,  that  these  Colonies  de- 
rive the  greater  part  of  the  Miseries  they  now  sadly  groan  under. 

While  the  French  were  industrious  in  sending  Priests  and  Jesuits  among 
them,  to  convert  them  to  Popery,  we  did  nothing  but  send  a  set  of  abandon'd 
profligate  men  to  trade  with  them  who  defrauded  and  cheated  them,  and  prac- 
tic'd  every  vice  among  them  that  can  be  named,  which  set  the  English  and  the 


1756.]  280 

Protestant  Religion  in  such  a  disadvantageous  light,  that  we  have  reason  to  fear 
they  detest  the  name  of  both. 

It  is  said  by  some  of  our  Brethren  who  have  lately  escaped  from  captivity 
that  they  heard  the  Indians  say  they  thought  it  no  Sin  to  Murder  the  English, 
but  rather  a  meritorious  Act,  and  if  it  was  a  Sin  the  French  had  old  Men 
among  them  who  could  forgive  all  Sins.  Others  observe  that  they  crossed 
themselves  every  Night  and  Morning  and  went  to  prayers  regularly.  That 
they  often  murmur'd  and  said  the  English  it  was  true  had  often  made  them 
trifling  presents,  but  that  they  took  care  they  should  never  carry  them  many 
Miles  before  the  Traders  came  after  them,  to  cheat  them,  giving  them  only  a 
little  Rum  in  return.  Whereas  the  French  always  paid  them  well  for  their 
Skins,  &c. ;  built  houses  for  them;  instructed  their  children  and  took  care  of 
their  wives  when  they  went  to  war. 

By  such  neglect  and  such  treatment  have  we  forfeited  an  alliance  that 
would  in  all  probability  have  secured  to  us  a  quiet  enjoyment  of  our  posses- 
sions and  prevented  the  dreadful  consequences  of  a  Savage  War. 

Several  Sachims  or  Indian  Kings  in  their  Treaties  formerly  with  this  Gov- 
ernment earnestly  solicited  that  no  European  should  be  permitted  to  carry 
Rum  to  their  Towns;  Upon  which  an  Act  was  pass'd  by  the  Governor  and 
Assembly  of  this  Province,  prohibiting  any  person  under  a  penalty  of  Ten 
pounds,  to  sell,  barter,  or  give  in  exchange,  any  Rum  or  other  Spirits  to  or 
with  any  Indian  within  the  province.  But  the  difficulty  of  producing  proof 
against  offenders,  as  they  were  chiefly  far  back  in  the  Woods,  where  they 
would  deal  clandestinely  out  of  the  view  of  any  but  themselves,  made  this 
Act  not  answer  the  good  intentions  of  the  Legislature.  So  that  the  Traders 
still  continued  to  sell  strong  Liquors  to  the  Indians,  whereby  they  were  often 
cheated  and  debauch'd  to  the  great  dishonor  of  Almighty  God,  Scandal  of  the 
Christain  Faith,  and  hindrance  of  propagating  true  religion  among  them. 
Yet  I  don't  despair  but  some  methods  may  be  fallen  upon  to  reclaim  them, 
and  make  them  sensible  that  their  attachment  to  the  English  will  be  their 
truest  interest,  and  greatest  happiness. 

And  indeed  (in  my  humble  opinion)  nothing  can  promise  fairer  to  produce 
these  happy  effects  than  this  scheme  proposed  by  the  Honble  Society.  In  the 
conversion  of  Indians  many  difficulties  and  impediments  will  occur,  which 
European  Missionaries  will  never  be  able  to  remove.  Their  Customs  and 
manner  of  living  are  so  opposite  to  the  Genius  and  constitution  of  our  people 


28i  [1760. 

that  they  could  never  become  familiar  to  them.  Few  of  the  Indians  have  any 
settled  plan  of  habitation  but  wander  about,  where  they  can  meet  with  most 
success  in  hunting,  and  whatever  Beasts  or  Reptiles  they  chance  to  take  are 
food  to  them.  Bears,  Foxes,  Wolves,  Raccoons,  Pole  Cats  and  even  Snakes, 
they  can  eat  with  as  much  cheerfulness  as  Englishmen  do  their  best  Beef  and 
Mutton.  But  such  hardships  are  easily  surmounted  and  such  an  austere  life 
made  agreeable,  by  such  as  from  their  infancy  have  been  accustomed  to  them. 
So  that  Indian  boys  educated  at  the  Academy  under  the  care  of  able  Masters, 
where  they  can  be  visited  by  their  relations  and  taught  every  thing  necessary 
for  them  to  learn,  at  an  easier  expence  than  in  any  of  the  Universities  in 
Europe,  will  be  first  to  be  employed  in  this  Grand  and  Glorious  work  and 
the  most  likely  to  succeed  in  it. 

However  defective  these  thoughts  may  be,  I  have  ventured,  Revd  Sir,  to 
communicate  them  freely;  and  if  I  have  luckily  dropt  any  hint  that  can  be  im- 
proved to  the  advantage  of  this  important  scheme,  I  shall  esteem  it  a  happi- 
ness; As  I  shall  always  think  it  my  duty  to  pay  the  highest  regards  to  the 
Honble  Society's  directions. 

I  might  justly  incur  the  censure  of  ingratitude,  did  I  conclude  this  Letter 
without  presenting  my  most  hearty  thanks,  which  I  sincerely  do,  to  that  Hon'ble 
Body  for  appointing  me  their  Missionary.  And  I  shall  ever  retain  a  grateful 
sense  of  the  many  friendships  and  favours  wherewith  I  was  honour'd  when  in 
London  by  particular  Members  of  it. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c. 


M\    CUR  RET  to  the   Secretary. 

Radnor,  March  31st,  1760. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  must  beg  leave  to  acquaint  the   Society  that  although   my  hearers  are 

many  in  number,  especially  at  Radnor  and  ye  Valley  yet  they  are  become  so 

very  careless  and  lukewarm,   that  I  cannot  get  them  to  meet   on  an  Easter 

Monday  to  chuse  a  Vestry.     And  as  to  my  support  among  them,  there  are 

36 


1 759-]  282 

but  a  very  few  that  give  themselves  any  concern  about  it  and  hitherto  I  have 
lived  upon  a  place  of  my  own  purchasing  but  as  my  ill  state  of  health  ren- 
dered me  incapable  of  managing  it  any  longer,  I  have  parted  with  it,  and  am 
now  destitute  of  a  habitation  for  my  numerous  family,  and  as  there  is  a  small 
Glebe  belonging  to  Perquihama  Church,  but  no  house  on  it,  I  pray  ye  Society 
may  enjoin  ye  Congregations  to  rebuild  ye  house,  or  purchase  one  more  con- 
venient, a  standing  Rule  of  ye  Society  they  have  never  yet  complied  with, 
which  if  they  neglect  to  do  I  must  petition  to  be  removed  to  a  mission  where 
I  can  have  a  convenient  habitation.  I  have  now  been  in  ye  Society's  service 
for  upwards  of  three  &  twenty  years  and  faithfully  discharged  ye  duty  of  my 
function  to  ye  satisfaction  of  all  that  knew  me,  and  now  infirmitysand  Old  age 
are  approaching,  my  sole  dependence,  under  God,  is  upon  ye  well  known 
benevolent  and  charitable  disposition  of  ye  Society  who  I'm  persuaded  will 
never  abandon  in  his  old  age,  him  who  has  been   their  faithful  Servant  from 

his  youth. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

WM.  CURRY. 


M\   BARTON  to  the  Secretary. 


Lancaster,  December  21st,  1759. 
Revd  Sir, 

A  few  weeks  ago  I  removed  my  family  to  Lancaster.  I  found  the  mission 
in  great  confusion  occasioned  by  some  unhappy  disputes  which  long  subsisted 
between  the  Gentleman  I  have  the  honour  to  succeed  and  the  people.  If  I  can 
be  instrumental  in  putting  an  end  to  them,  I  shall  think  myself  happy.  I  assure 
the  Honble  Society  nothing  shall  be  wanting  in  me  to  do  it;  to  revive  the  credit 
of  the  Mission,  and  to  support  the  interests  of  virtue  and  religion  among  the 
people.  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  I  have  a  favorable  prospect  of 
doing  service  here.  At  Pequea  and  Carnarvon  the  people  are  furnishing  their 
New  Churches  in  a  very  handsome  manner.  We  intend  next  Summer  to 
enlarge  our  Church  at  Lancaster,  having  the  satisfaction  to  see  it  too  small  for 


283        •  [1758- 

the  Congregation.     In  short,  a  real  Spirit  of  Religion  and  learning  seems  to 
rise  amongst  us. 

I  have  baptized  since  I  entered  upon  this  Mission  44  Infants.  I  am  pre- 
paring 2  families  who  intend  to  be  baptized  both  Old  and  Young.  The  num- 
ber of  communicants  are  about  50.  As  to  the  State  of  the  Mission  over  the 
Susquehannah  the  inclosed  petition  will  inform  you.  I  have  not  withdrawn, 
neither  do  I  intend  to  withdraw  my  care  from  these  poor  people.  I  shall  fre- 
quently visit  them  and  render  them  every  service  in  my  power  till  the  Honble 
Society  can  provide  better  for  them.  In  the  County  of  Berks  there  are  a 
Number  of  people  of  the  Communion  of  the  Church  of  England,  who  have 
never  had  an  Episcopal  Minister  among  them  and  I  intend  to  visit  them  in 
the  Spring  and  shall  acquaint  you  with  the  result. 

I  went  into  the  army  for  the  reasons  which  I  gave  General  Forbes  in  a 
Letter  a  Copy  of  which  I  enclose  you  with  his  answer.  As  it  has  always  been 
my  aim  thro'  the  course  of  my  Ministry  to  do  every  thing  that  might  tend  to 
the  honour  of  religion  and  the  credit  of  the  Mission.  I  hope  the  Honble 
Society  will  not  disapprove  of  this  part  of  my  conduct. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

THO.  BARTON. 


The  Revd   M\  BARTON  to  BRIGADIER-GENERAL 

FORBES. 


Carlisle,  July  8th,  1758. 
Hond  Sir, 

I  am  informed  that  a  great  number  of  the  Forces  under  your  command 
are  of  the  Communion  of  the  Church  of  England,  as  I  hear  of  no  Episcopal 
Clergyman  appointed  their  Chaplain,  I  am  prompted  by  duty,  inclination  and 
every  good  motive  to  attend  them.  I  have  nothing  in  view  but  the  honour  of 
the  Church,  the  satisfaction  of  these  people  and  to  discharge  my  trust  to  the 
Venble  Society  who  have  appointed  me  a  Missionary  in  these  Counties.     The 


1 759.]  284 

success  of  the  present  expedition  I  have  much  at  heart,  and  I  assure  you,  Sir, 
nothing  can  afford  me  more  pleasure  than  to  embrace  every  opportunity  to 
promote  it. 

I  have  the  honour,  &c. 


GENERAL  FORBES  to  the  Rev"  M\  BARTON. 

Carlisle,  July  9th,  1759. 
Sir, 

I  am  favoured  with  yours  of  the  8th  and  am  sorry  to  find  that  the  Troops 
of  the  Communion  of  the  Church  of  England  are  not  properly  provided  with 
a  Clergyman  of  their  own  profession.  In  consequence  therefore  of  your  laud- 
able zeal  for  the  service  of  your  King  and  Country  and  of  your  truly  com- 
mendable inclination  of  discharging  your  ministerial  and  Episcopal  duty  to  the 
Troops  of  the  Episcopal  persuasion  under  my  command  You  are  hereby  invi- 
ted and  authorized  to  the  discharge  of  all  Ministerial  functions  belonging  to  a 
Clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England  amongst  the  Troops  under  my  Com 
mand.  And  all  &  Sundry  are  hereby  ordered  and  required  to  pay  all  due 
Reverence  and  respect  to  you  and  the  Reverend  function  you  are  invested 
with.  And  be  assured  that  at  all  times  &  in  all  places,  the  Clergymen  &  those 
of  the  persuasion  of  the  Church  of  England  shall  always  be  properly  encour- 
aged and  protected. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c. 


2g5  [i759- 

To  the  Venerable  Society  for  the   Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 

Foreign  Parts. 


The  petition  of  sundry  Inhabitants  Members  of  the 
Episcopal  Churches  in  the  Counties  of  York 
and  Cumberland  in  Pennsylvania, 

Oct.  2nd,  1759. 
Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  since  the  removal  of  the  Revd  Mr.  Barton  from  amongst  us,  we  are 
very  apprehensive  of  all  the  evil  consequences  which  ignorance  and  the  want 
of  public  worship  may  be  naturally  supposed  to  introduce.  And  it  is  too  prob- 
able that  the  many  virtuous  impressions  made  by  his  truly  pious  and  extra- 
ordinary services  will  in  a  short  time  greatly  decay  unless  we  be  again  hap- 
pily favor'd  with  the  Society's  benevolent  assistance. 

We  are  now  entirely  sensible  of  the  Superior  advantages  attending  the 
regular  Ministration  of  God's  word  as  it  is  the  best  defence  against  the  infec- 
tion of  superstition  and  infidelity,  and  may  be  the  means  of  securing  liberty 
and  a  blessed  futurity  to  us  and  our  posterity.  Therefore  our  present  loss 
does  the  more  deeply  affect  us. 

It  was  our  greatest  misfortune  that  about  the  time  Mr.  Barton  was  ap- 
pointed to  officiate  here  the  present  War  commenced  and  the  alarming  dis- 
tresses in  which  the  frontier  Settlements  have  been  almost  ever  since  remark- 
ably involved,  occasioned  this  worthy  Missionary's  charge  to  be  extremely 
laborious  and  rendered  it  impracticable  for  us  to  contribute  towards  his  sup- 
port as  liberally  as  our  hearty  wishes  prompted  and  the  circumstances  of  his 
family  so  long  exposed  to  equal  dangers  with  ourselves  required.  We  shall 
still  retain  a  grateful  remembrance  of  his  merit,  of  his  cheerfulness  in  sharing 
the  difficulties  of  our  critical  and  unhappy  situation  and  his  firm  resolution  in 
assisting  to  repel  our  fears,  till  affairs  began  to  put  on  a  more  favourable  aspect. 

Heaven  (at  a  time  when  we  apprehended  ourselves  upon  the  very  brink 
of  ruin),  has  been  graciously  pleased  to  interfere  in  frustrating  the  designs  of 
a  savage  enemy  and  interrupting  their  progress.  And  as  we  have  now  the 
joyful  prospect  of  approaching  safety,  our  former  neighbours  who  fled  to  Car- 


1760.]  286 

olinaand  other  parts  in  order  to  escape  the  Calamities  of  Murder  and  Slavery 
will  undoubtedly  be  induced  to  return  to  their  plantations  to  enjoy  the  fruits 
of  a  long  labour.  Instead  of  a  desolate  dispersed  people  (such  as  we  lately 
saw  ourselves),  oppress'd  with  a  weight  of  troubles  and  yet  daily  dreading 
greater,  we  expect  soon  to  be  collected;  and  in  a  better  capacity  to  give  larger 
encouragement  to  a  Clergyman  than  we  ever  could  before.  Animated  with 
these  hopes  we  purpose  immediately  to  make  all  suitable  improvements  on 
the  Glebe,  to  erect  a. Parsonage  House  and  a  New  Church;  in  short,  to  exert 
ourselves  to  the  utmost  of  our  power  in  so  interesting  and  important  a  Mat- 
ter. 

And  as  we  have  the  pleasure  of  knowing  that  the  design  of  the  Venble 
Society  is  to  assist  in  diffusing  the  light  of  the  Glorious  Gospel  among 
those  who  sit  in  darkness  and  error,  we  would  pray  and  beseech,  that 
as  they  were  once  pleased  out  of  compassion  to  our  distressed  situation  to 
extend  a  share  of  the  great  benefits  of  their  charity  to  us,  they  would  still 
continue  us  under  their  care  and  by  the  appointment  of  another  worthy  Mis- 
sionary contribute  towards  making  us  again  a  flourishing  and  happy  people. 
We  acknowledge  with  the  deepest  sense  of  gratitude  the  favours  we  have 
already  received,  and  we  promise  to  do  every  thing  in  our  power  to  render 
ourselves  worthy  of  those  which  may  hereafter  be  vouchsafed  us. 


Mr.  NEILL  to  the  Secretary. 


German  Town,  May  12th,  1760. 
Very  Revd  and  Dr  Sir, 

It  is  with  the  greatest  pleasure  I  can  inform  you  that  the  Congregation  of 
Oxford,  thro'  the  blessing  of  God  is  in  a  growing  condition;  as  regular,  numer- 
ous and  uniform  as  ever  it  has  been,  as  I  am  informed.  The  pewing  of  the 
Church  (which  cost  about  £70),  is  completed;  and  there  are  numbers  we  can't 
supply.  We  had  20  Communicants  last  Easter;  the  oldest  livers  in  the  place 
tell  me  they  don't  remember  such  a  number  to  have  taken  the  Sacrament 
there  before.     I  wish  I  could  say  the  same  of  White-marsh.     The  Communi- 


287  [1760. 

cants  there  were  but  six  altho'  the  Church  is  crowded  there  every  Sunday  yet 
they  are  chiefly  of  other  persuasions,  the  Church  people  being  but  few  in  them 
parts.  I  have  an  invitation  from  some  of  the  English  people  in  German  Town 
to  preach  for  them,  as  there  is  no  kind  of  English  worship  in  the  Town  except 
a  Quaker  meeting  house;  and  indeed  this  is  something  extraordinary 
as  I  don't  know  a  family  of  the  Church  of  England  in  the  Town  but  one 
altho'  it  contains  300  houses,  but  as  they  are  divided  into  so  many  Sects  that 
no  single  sect  is  able  to  support  a  Minister,  I  mean  the  English  people, 
and  as  I  have  offered  to  preach  to  them  for  nothing  Sunday  Evenings, 
after  Service  is  over  of  my  other  Churches,  they  readily  embraced  the 
offer.  The  loan  of  the  Lutheran  Church  of  the  upper  end  of  German  Town 
and  of  the  Calvinist  Church  in  the  Middle  of  the  Town,  are  both  offered  to  me 
by  their  respective  Ministers  and  people,  as  they  appear  more  willing  to  have 
a  Minister  of  the  Church  of  England  to  preach  to  their  people  that  understand 
English  (as  most  of  the  young  people  do),  than  any  other  denomination. 
Since  I  had  the  very  great  misfortune  of  having  the  Glebe  house  at  Oxford 
and  the  best  part  of  my  valuable  effects  destroyed  by  fire  I  have  removed  my 
family  into  German  Town.  The  Governor  and  Citizens  of  Philadelphia  were 
so  sensible  of  the  misery  my  family  was  reduced  to  by  fire  that  they  sub- 
scribed the  sum  of  Two  hundred  and  fifty  five  pounds  towards  rebuilding  the 
Glebe  house  which  is  almost  double  the  value  of  the  house,  as  it  was  an  old 
wooden  building.  The  Congregation  considering  the  inconvenient  situation 
of  the  Glebe,  being  13  Miles  distant  from  White  Marsh,  joined  me  in  a  peti- 
tion to  the  Assembly  for  leave  to  bring  in  a  Bill  to  sell  the  old  Glebe  and  pur- 
chase one  more  convenient  and  better  land.  The  Assembly  gave  us  leave  to 
bring  in  a  Bill  ;  accordingly  a  Bill  lyes  before  them  for  the  aforesaid  purpose 
and  we  have  the  strongest  assurance  that  it  will  be  passed  the  next  Session. 

The  loss  sustained  by  the  fire  (exclusive  of  the  house)  exceeded  one  hun- 
dred pounds  besides  my  Library  which  exceeded  Sixty  pounds  Sterling,  inde- 
pendent of  part  of  the  Library  belonging  to  Oxford,  add  to  this  the  loss  I  am 
like  to  sustain  in  having  no  restitution  made  me  for  all  my  buildings  and 
improvements  made  on  the  Glebe  at  Dover  to  the  value  of  One  hundred 
pounds  more  money  borrowed  upon  the  faith  of  the  Dover  people  to  repay  it, 
but  they  have  taken  possession  of  the  whole.  I  need  make  no  observations 
on  the  aforesaid  facts.  Every  one  must  see  that  so  many  losses  by  fire  and 
fraud  must  reduce  me  to  the  last  extremity.     I  hope   Heaven  will  enable  me 


1760.]  288 

to  bear  up  under  all  these  calamities  for  if  the  Honourable  Society  don't  con- 
sider me  in  my  present  circumstances  (which  I  would  fain  hope  they  will),  I 
have  nothing  else  left  but  to  exercise  patience  in  the  midst  of  the  severest 
affliction. 

I  remain,  Revd  Sir,  &c. 


TO    THE    VENERABLE     SOCIETY  for  Propagating 
the    Gospel  i?i   Foreign   Parts. 


The  humble  Representation  of  the  Subscribers 
Inhabitants  of  the  county  of  Berks  in  the 
province  of  Pennsylvania, 

Sheweth, 

That  the  said  county  is  a  very  large  and  growing  one,  situated  on 
the  frontiers  of  the  said  province  and  hath  never  yet  had  any  English 
Minister  of  any  denomination  settled  in  it,  nor  hath  it  had  the  happiness 
of  being  visited  often  by  any  of  the  Reverend  Clergy  of  the  interior 
counties,  there  being  none  whose  cure  is  so  near  to  us  as  to  allow  them 
to    come    hither  without   neglect  of  their  proper  parishioners. 

That  we  much  lament  the  case  of  our  children  and  families  who  live 
entirely  destitute  of  those  Instructions  which  we  in  our  younger  days  had 
the  happiness  to  be  blest  with  in  our  native  places,  and  are  justly  apprehen- 
sive that  unless  the  Venerable  Society  will  be  pleased  to  extend  their  pious 
and  charitable  cure  to  us  by  fixing  a  Missionary  among  us,  we  shall  have  the 
mortification  of  seeing  our  children  brought  up  without  any  Idea  of  public 
worship  or  religious  Ordinances. 

That  in  this  distress,  having  invited  the  Revd  Doctor  William  Smith  up  to 
preach  among  us  and  having  received  encouragement  from  him  to  lay  our 
case  before  your  venerable  body  (whose  tender  concern  for  the  extension  of 
Christianity  &  welfare  of  His  Majesty's  Colonies  have  been  long  conspicuous), 
we  have    presumed  to  apply  for   your  assistance  humbly  praying  that  you 


289  [1760. 

would  be  pleased  to  send  over  a  Missionary  to  reside  in  Reading,  the  chief 
town  of  the  county  aforesaid,  and  to  officiate  also  at  Molattin  a  place  fifteen 
Miles  distant,  where  a  church  has  for  many  years  been  built  by  a  Society 
of  English  &  Swedes  who  are  desirous  of  having  a  Missionary  of  the  Church 
of  England  and  join  with  us  in  this  application. 

That  in  order  to  induce  the  Venerable  Society  to  grant  our  said  request 
we  have  in  conjunction  with  the  said  Molattin  Congregation  entered  into  a 
Subscription  obliging  ourselves  to  pay  yearly  to  such  Missionary  the  sum  of 
Sixty  pounds  Pennsylvania  money  being  about  Thirty-eight  pounds  Sterling 
over  and  above  what  the  Society  may  be  pleased  to  allow  him  ;  which  sum 
was  readily  subscribed  by  the  Inhabitants  who  seem  resolved  to  give  all 
further  encouragement  in  their  power  to  any  worthy  Minister  the  Society 
may  be  pleased  to  send  over,  for  which  purpose  our  best  services  shall  not 
be  wanting. 

That  for  want  of  Ministers  of  the  Church  of  England  in  these  parts  many 
people  sincerely  disposed  to  be  among  the  number  of  her  Members  are 
drawn  after  various  sorts  of  Sectaries,  and  which  is  still  worse  the  Roman 
Catholic  priests  are  making  converts  among  us  to  the  great  grief  of  your 
petitioners  and  others,  and  that  we  believe  a  pious  Ministry  of  the  Church 
of  England  would  be  able  to  promote  the  interests  of  piety  and  virtue  and  to 
prevent  a  great  body  from  leaving  the  Church  for  want  of  opportunity  of 
attending  public  worship. 

That  if  the  Society  have  no  particular  person  in  view  for  us  as  a  Mission- 
ary, there  is  a  young  Gentleman  Mr.  Joseph  Mather  now  in  London,  born  of 
creditable  parents  in  this  province  and  educated  at  College  of  Philadelphia, 
who  we  believe  would  do  us  good  service  if  he  could  be  prevailed  upon  to 
come  to  this  place  and  undertake  the  fatigues  to  which  a  new  Mission  near 
the  frontiers  must  necessarily  be  subject. 

WILLM   BIRD,  &  others. 


1760.]  290 

M\    CRAIG   to    the    Secretary. 


(EXTRACT. 


Chester,  July  27th,   1760. 
Very  Revd  Sir, 

At  last  I  came  and  settled  here.  But  I  should  have  premised  that  I 
delivered  your  Letter  to  ye  congregation  of  Chester  on  the  4th  of  December, 
1758.  Those  of  Chichester  alias  Marcus  Hook  and  those  of  Concord  being 
all  present  which  Letter  informs  That  ye  Society  expects  and  insists  That  they 
provide  ye  Missionary  with  a  good  habitable  house  and  Glebe,  that  they  put 
their  church  in  decent  repair  and  contribute  according  to  their  abilitys  for  the 
Missionary's  better  support.  I  told  them  I  should  insist  on  ye  same  &  if  they 
would  not  comply  to  say  so,  for  it  would  be  no  disappointment  to  me,  not  to 
come  to  Chester.  They  then  opened  a  subscription  for  a  house  but  not  one 
farthing  of  ye  subscription  is  collected  to  this  day,  nor  does  any  concern 
themselves  about  it.  Subscriptions  are  common  in  this  country  but  to  make 
them  good  is  all. 

The  Society's  request  is  highly  just  for  all  these  things  in  every  tittle  are 
wanting  here  and  whether  as  matters  now  are  they  will  ever  be  complied  with 
remains  no  great  doubt  with  me  for  having  read  Mr.  Secretary  Humphries's 
state  of  ye  Missions  in  Pennsylvania  I  am  astonished  to  find  ye  Mission  of 
Chester  to  have  been  opened  in  1701  and  that  to  this  day  they  have  made  no 
provision  of  any  kind.  No  !  not  so  much  as  a  stable  for  their  Missionary's 
Horse.  This  indifference  of  theirs,  to  what  can  I  attribute  it?  But  neither  to 
ye  neglect  of  my  predecessors  or  ye  over  indulgence  of  the  Society  which  they 
have  egregeously  abused.  They  have  differed  I  find  with  all  their  Ministers, 
divided  among  themselves,  and  are  now  dwindled  in  a  manner  to  nothing. 

They  have  three  nominal  churches  or  congregations,  This  of  Chester,  That 
of  Chichester  only  4  miles  from  hence,  and  ye  other  at  Concord  9  miles  hence 
&  put  all  together  will  not  make  one  tollerable  congregation.  In  this  village 
which  is  built  on  ye  River  Delaware,  wherein  there  are  about  thirty  odd  fam- 
ilies there  are  not  three  who  can  properly  be  said  to  be  decent  Members  of 
our  Church,  &  of  them,  if  ye  husband  comes  to  divine  service  ye  wife  perhaps 
&  children  go  elsewhere.     In   proof  whereof  I  shall   adduce  an  instance — 


291  [1760. 

Some  time  before  I  gave  public  notice  That  I  intended  to  Catechise  ye  Children 
in  Lent  &  when  the  time  came  I  called  on  parents  &  Masters  to  send  them 
next  Sunday,  when  to  my  great  surprize  there  was  not  one  came.  Then  I  gave 
them  notice  a  second  time  when  it  was  just  «ye  same  whereupon  I  told  ye 
congregation  that  such  conduct  bore  a  very  melancholy  aspect  &  nothing 
could  be  alledged  in  excuse  but  their  own  coldness  and  indifferency  as  ye 
Schoolmaster  who  taught  their  children  was  a  Churchman. 

And  I  was  never  more  amazed  than  after  a  preparation  sermon  and  Six 
weeks'  notice  given  them  of  ye  Sacrament  to  be  administered  on  Christmas 
day  I  found  but  three  Communicants  and  two  of  them  a  Man  and  his  wife  at 
Hook;  on  Easter  Sunday  but  four  and  two  of  them  ye  same,  and  on  Whit- 
Sunday  at  Concord  the  same — as  to  their  generosity,  affability  and  friendly 
intercourse  I  have  found  nothing  of  it  since  I  came  amongst  them  so  yl  in  one 
sense  it  is  happy  for  me  I  am  a  single  Man  and  have  no  family.  In  that  case 
I  could  not  keep  up  my  credit  by  ye  Mission.  It  is  an  expensive  place  to  any 
who  would  live  but  purely  decent,  it  being  within  15  Miles  of  Philadelphia. 
In  short  it's  a  place  without  any  trade  or  commerce  &  4-5ths  of  its  Inhabit- 
ants poor. 

As  to  Religion,  it's  Quakerism  all  over  ye  county  chiefly  and  they  have  a 
large  Meeting  house  in  this  village.  This  principle  has  &  ever  will  prevail, 
as  well  as  presbytery  in  this  province  whilst  ye  Magistracy  in  general  is  such. 
When  I  came  to  this  village  I  could  not  get  a  private  house  to  lodge  in  so  yl  I 
was  under  a  necessity  to  rent  a  house  &  hire  a  servant  which  is  no  small 
expence  besides  ye  keeping  of  a  horse,  all  which  I  pay  out  of  my  own  pocket. 
The  Society's  Bounty  will  never  do  except  ye  people  can  be  brought  to  do 
their  part  likewise,  at  least  ^20  *p  an.  with  a  house  and  glebe.  For  I  have 
ever  observed  yl  when  a  clergyman  becomes  an  object  of  some  people's 
charity  instead  of  their  relieving  him,  he  instantly  becomes  ye  object  of  their 
contempt ;  and  his  doctrine  too  often  shares  ye  same  fate.  And  I  must  say 
the  plan  on  which  ye  Society's  Missionary  Mr.  Morton  is  gone  upon  is  one  of 
the  best  I  know. 

The  people  obligate  themselves  to  do  such  and  such  things  for  him  so  that 
he  has  a  legal  demand  on  them  for  ye  same  when  he  discharges  his  duty. 

Now  what  I  write  is  not  with  design  ye  Society  should  withdraw  the  Mis- 
sion, without  giving  ye  people  notice  what  they  must  do  if  they  will  preserve 
It,  only  I  am  at  a  loss  to  know  what   proposals    ye  people  have  ever  made  to 


1760.]  292 

the  Society  &  how  they  have  complied  with  them  so  as  to  entitle  them  to  a 
Missionary  so  long.  For  whatever  are  the  standing  rules  of  the  Society  as  to 
a  Glebe,  a  parsonage  house,  ye  keeping  of  Churches  and  burying  grounds  in 
decent  repair,  with  subscriptions  for  the  better  support  of  ye  Missionary,  they 
seem  strangers  to  all  these  things  here. 

I  have  enquired  of  some  of  them  what  were  the  proposals  made  to  the 
Society  for  another  Missionary  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Backhouse.  They  say 
they  wrote  on  that  occasion,  but  what,  they  cannot  tell ;  ye  copy  is  not  to  be 
found.  I  asked  if  they  made  any  application  on  ye  removal  of  Mr.  Thompson. 
They  say,  none.  My  views  in  this  were  to  find  out  whether  they  had  ever 
made  any  proposals  to  the  Society  at  all,  and  how  badly  they  had  fulfilled 
them. 

I  find  every  Mission  in  ye  Province  has  taken  some  care  to  procure  a 
glebe  and  parsonage,  to  keep  their  churches  in  repair  and  contribute  to  ye 
Missionary's  better  support,  except  this  of  Chester,  where  they  cannot  agree 
upon  any  one  thing,  and  if  any  thing  is  proposed  it  generally  comes  to  noth- 
ing, and  nothing  is  done.  For  Chester  will  not  agree  with  ye  Hook,  nor  the 
Hook  with  Chester,  or  Concord  with  either  of  them.  For  when  it  is  my  turn 
to  go  to  the  Hook  there  will  not  one  soul  go  with  me  from  Chester  &  when 
Divine  service  is  at  Chester,  there  will  rarely  be  one  from  the  Hook,  and  as 
rarely  one  from  Concord  at  either  of  them.  Were  they  all  decent  congrega- 
tions as  to  their  numbers,  I  should  not  so  much  wonder  at  it.  But  there  is 
not  a  dozen  of  decent  &  orderly  Members  belonging  to  them  all,  or  above,  & 
no  man  can  conceive  ye  dispositions  of  those  people  but  he  who  has  to  deal 
with  them. 

The  few  of  Chester  say  ye  Missionary  is  sent  solely  to  them,  Hook  says 
they  have  a  chappel  and  as  good  a  congregation  as  Chester  &  Concord,  tho' 
but  the  shadow  of  a  congregation  claims  a  share  of  ye  Missionary's  service,  so 
yl  except  ye  Society  will  interpose  &  redress  all  these  grievances,  their  Mis- 
sionary can  have  no  satisfaction  among  such  a  divided  people.  For  as  I  said 
before,  there  being  two  chappels,  one  within  4  miles,  the  other  9  miles  from 
Chester,  they  have  destroyed  Chester  &  themselves  too  almost  beyond 
recovery ;  for  were  they  all  united  into  one,  they'd  make  but  a  poor  congre- 
gation. I  would  therefore  beg  of  the  Society  speedily  to  transmit  me  their 
determination  as  to  this  Mission,  letting  ye  people  at  ye  same  time  know  what 
must  be  ye  consequence  if  they  do  not  immediately  comply  with  their  reason- 


293  [1760. 

able  injunctions,  namely  that  I  may  go  to  some  other  vacant  Mission  in  ye 
Jerseys  or  N.  York  Governments.  This,  if  anything,  will  make  them  do  some- 
thing.\ 

I  must  again  acquaint  the  Society,  that  a  Bishop  or  two  are  greatly 
wanted  in  America  were  it  only  to  countenance  ye  deserving  clergy  &  to  lay 
their  grievances  before  them,  for  without  such  our  Church  will  ever  be  a 
Jumble  of  confusion  especially  in  Pennsylvania.  Besides  they  are  indispensa- 
bly necessary  were  it  only  for  ye  sacred  institution  of  confirmation  for  Spon- 
sors are  become  as  things  obsolete ;  by  reason  they  are  never  acquitted  of 
their  engagements  &  ye  Sectaries  say  a  great  deal  on  this  topick  which  it  is  not 
in  our  power  to  obviate,  and  now  would  be  much  the  properest  time  of  sending 
such :  as  there  are  many  brave  Men  and  worthy  members  of  our  Church  both 
in  ye  Navy  and  Army  in  these  parts  and  for  the  Society's  better  information 
of  ye  state  of  ye  Missions,  I  wish  they  would  appoint  some  discreet  person  or 
persons  to  visit  them.  This  would  prevent  those  heart  burnings  which  a  worth- 
less people  too  ready  conceive  against  ye  Missionaries  when  they  transmit  (as 
I  now  do)  a  true  state  of  their  Missions  to  ye  Hon'ble  Society.  Had  this  been 
done  long  ago  the  older  Missions  I  dare  say  would  have  been  by  this  time  on 
a  respectable  footing  in  this  province  as  also  in  others  ;  instead  whereof  I'm 
apprehensive  some  of  them  are  not  to  compare  with  those  of  later  erection. 

Very  Revd  Sir, 

Their  &  your  most  obliged,  &c. 


Mr.  BARTON  to   the    Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Lancaster  in  Pennsylvania,  Decr  6th,   1760. 
Reverend  Sir, 

In  my  last  Letters  which  went  by  Dr.  Morgan  in  the  Dragon  commanded 
by  Capt.  Hamet,  I  gave  you  a  circumstantial  account  of  my  Mission  both  with 
regard  to  the  Religious  state,  as  well  as  of  the  number  and  disposition  of  the 


1760.]  294 

inhabitants.  I  know  but  little  that  I  can  add  at  present  to  that  account,  except 
that  the  Sectaries  are  likely  to  overrun  us.  Their  Colleges  in  New  England 
and  the  Jerseys  are  continually  sending  out  preachers  ;  who  are  always  not 
Men  of  the  most  Catholic  principles.  I  believe  no  less  than  eight  or  nine  have 
been  licensed  in  this  single  province  within  this  twelvemonth  and  tho'  I  must 
in  justice  to  some  of  them,  observe  that  I  have  found  among  them  Men 
of  Charity  and  Moderation  ;  yet  others  seem  to  take  all  imaginable  pains  to 
represent  the  Church  of  England  in  the  most  unfavorable  light.  But  I  hope 
the  few  Missionaries  here  in  her  communion  will  use  all  the  means  that  pru 
dence  and  true  religion  can  suggest  to  support  the  credit  and  interest  of  it 
against  the  prejudice  and  Influence  of  these  Gainsayers  and  happy  shall  I  think 
myself  if  it  shall  please  God  to  make  me  any  ways  instrumental  in  assisting  so 
good  a  work. 

Since  the  date  of  my  last  letter  I  have  been  to  visit  many  congregations 
who  have  no  settled  Minister  from  whom  I  received  a  most  cordial  invitation 
and  reception.  I  have  baptized  one  adult  and  thirty-two  children.  The  num- 
ber of  my  communicants  are  increased.  The  Churches  in  Pequea  and  Carnar- 
von seem  to  retain  the  true  spirit  of  Christianity  and  shew  a  laudable  zeal  to 
keep  it  up.  I  wish  I  could  say  the  same  of  the  church  in  Lancaster  but  the 
misfortune  here  is  that  some  people  puffed  up  with  a  notion  of  their  superior 
knowledge,  fortunes  and  families  seem  apprehensive  of  ranking  with  the  mean- 
er sort,  if  they  shewed  that  respect  to  religion  which  is  due  to  it.  Indeed  if  the 
Church  in  Lancaster  ever  flourishes,  it  must  be  by  means  of  the  Germans, 
who  (as  I  formerly  mentioned  to  you)  are  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  place. 
But  the  want  of  an  organ  of  which  these  people  are  extremely  fond,  &  in  which 
they  place  almost  half  their  devotion,  has  hitherto  kept  them  back.  Many  of 
the  Lutherans  who  gladly  embrace  every  opportunity  to  teach  their  children 
the  Religion,  Manners  and  Customs  of  England,  would  come  to  our  Church 
if  we  had  but  an  Instrument  to  celebrate  the  praises  of  God  in  the  manner 
that  they  have  been  used  to.  Dr.  Kuhn,  a  publick  spirited  gentleman  of  this 
persuasion  and  an  eminent  physician,  has  propos'd  to  us  to  purchase  a  small 
organ  of  about  ^60  sterling  price  and  that  he  would  not  only  give  us  five 
pounds  towards  it,  but  play  for  us  gratis.  Besides  this  Benefaction  I  have  ob- 
tained ^15  more  and  shall  use  my  best  endeavours  to  obtain  the  whole.  As 
the  happy  period  is  now  arriv'd,  when  by  a  train  of  glorious  conquests,  we 
have  extended  our  dominions  far  into  America,  and  have  oblig'd  many  barbar- 


295  [1760. 

ous  Nations  who  are  immersed  in  the  grossest  Idolatry  without  even  the 
knowledge  of  the  God  that  made  them,  to  become  the  subjects  of  Great  Britain. 
I  hope  we  shall  seize  so  favorable  an  advantage  to  enlarge  the  dominion  of 
Christ,  by  propagating  his  Gospel  among  those  poor  Heathen  who  "sit  in 
darkness  and  the  shadow  of  death."  Whenever  our  superiors  at  home  think 
proper  to  command  us  I  am  persuaded  a  Number  of  Missionaries  will  be  found 
who  would  cheerfully  expose  themselves  to  all  the  danger  and  fatigues  of  so 
hazardous  an  attempt. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c. 


Copy  of  Minutes  of  a   Convention   or    Voluntary   Meeting   of 
the  Episcopal  Clergy  of  Pennsylvania. 


Philadelphia,  April  30th,  1760. 

It  having  been  agreed  some  time  last  Fall  by  sundry  of  the  Episcopal 
clergy  of  this  Province  &  Counties  annexed  that  it  might  contribute  to  the 
general  service  of  Religion  to  have  a  free  &  voluntary  Meeting  or  Conven- 
tion to  confer  together  on  such  subjects  as  the  particular  situation  of  their 
congregations  might  require,  the  following  gentlemen  accordingly  appeared 
this  day  viz1 : 

Doctor  Robert  Jenney,  Rector  of  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia ;  Doctor 
William  Smith,  Provost  of  the  College  in  Philadelphia  ;  Mr.  George  Craig, 
Missionary  at  Chester ;  Mr.  Philip  Reading,  Missionary  at  Apoquiniminck  ; 
Mr.  William  Sturgeon,  Assistant  Minister  &  Catechist  to  the  Negroes  in  Phil- 
adelphia ;  Mr.  Thomas  Barton,  Missionary  at  Lancaster  ;  Mr.  William  Mac- 
clennachan,  another  of  the  Assistant  Ministers  in  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia ; 
Mr.  Chas  Inglis,  Missionary  at  Dover,  &  Mr.  Jacob  Duche,  likewise  an  Assist- 
ant Minister  in  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia.  At  the  same  time  appeared  also 
Mr.  Samuel  Cook  &  Mr.  Robert  McKean,  two  of  the  Society's  worthy  Mis- 
sionaries of  New  Jersey,  with  the  kind  intention  of  giving  their  best  advice 
and  assistance  in  promoting  the  designs  of  the  Convention. 


1760.]  296 

It  was  agreed  that  Dr.  Robert  Jenney,  Rector  of  Christ  Church  ought 
naturally  to  preside  at  this  convention,  and  the  same  was  notified  to  him  ;  But 
he  excusing  himself  from  acting  on  account  of  his  great  bodily  indisposition 
recommended  the  Revd  Dr.  William  Smith  for  that  purpose  who  was  accord- 
ingly unanimously  chosen :  It  was  also  agreed  to  choose  James  Humphreys 
Esqr  one  of  the  Vestrymen  of  Christ  Church  to  be  Secretary  or  Clerk  to  this 
Convention,  provided  he  would  serve  us  in  that  capacity  and  he  having  given 
his  consent  was  chosen  accordingly. 

Agreed  that  a  copy  of  an  address  be  prepared  to  present  to  His  Honor 
the  Governor  &  Messrs  Thos  Barton  and  Jacob  Duche  are  appointed  for  that 
purpose. 

Agreed  that  a  copy  of  an  address  be  prepared  to  his  Grace  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury  to  congratulate  his  Grace  on  his  elevation  to  that  high 
office  and  to  make  an  humble  tender  of  our  duty  to  him:  &  Messrs  Reading, 
Barton  &  Macclenachan  *  are  appointed  to  draw  the  same  :  And  that  a  State 
of  the  Missions  within  this  Province  be  transmitted  with  the  same :  That  an 
address  be  also  sent  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  with  a  like  State  of  the 
Missions 

Agreed  that  the  Revd  Dr.  Wm  Smith  be  requested  to  preach  a  Sermon 
before  the  Convention  in  Christ  Church  on  Friday  next :  From  which  Vote 
the  Revd  Mr.  Macclenachan  dissented  &  offered  to  produce  reasons  for  the 
said  dissent  against  next  meeting. 

Friday,  May  2d,  1760. 

The  Convention  being  met  pursuant  to  adjournment  of  whom  were 
present: 

Dr.  William  Smith,  President ;  Mr.  George  Craig  ;  Mr.  Philip  Reading  ; 
Mr.  William  Sturgeon  ;  Mr.  Thomas  Barton  ;  Mr.  William  Macclenachan  ; 
Mr.  Charles  Inglis ;  Mr.  Jacob  Duche  ;  Mr.  Samuel  Cooke,  &  Mr.  Robert 
McKean.  Mr.  Hugh  Neill,  Missionary  at  Oxford,  at  the  same  time  also  ap- 
peared &  took  his  seat  in  the  Convention. 

Agreeable  to  appointment  the  Address  to  his  Honor  the  Governor  was 
laid  before  the  Convention,  a  copy  of  which  follows : 


*  Mr.  Macclenachan  did  not  meet  the  above  Committee  to  assist  in  drawing  the  said  address 
&  wanted  his  name  to  be  erased  from  it  the  day  after  it  was  signed. 


297  [1760. 

"  To  the  Honorable  James  Hamilton,  Esq1".,  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania  &  Counties  of  New  Castle,  Kent  &  Sussex  upon 
Delaware. 

"  The  Humble  Address  of  the  Clergy  of  the  Church  of  England  in  the 
said  Province  and  Counties  now  convened  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia. 

"  May  it  please  your  Honor  : 

"  We  the  Episcopal  Clergy  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  and  Counties 
annexed  being  now  met  in  voluntary  Convention  beg  leave  to  embrace  this 
favorable  opportunity  to  congratulate  your  Honor  upon  your  second  appoint- 
ment to  this  Government  and  to  testify  the  Joy  we  feel  upon  so  favorable  and 
happy  an  event. 

"  The  Reputation  with  which  you  formerly  discharged  this  important  Trust 
is  still  fresh  in  our  Memories,  and  while  we  reflect  on  the  blessings  we  once 
enjoyed  from  your  happy  administration  we  cannot  but  esteem  it  our  particular 
felicity  that  we  can  again  call  you  our  Governor. 

"  Permit  us  sir  to  assure  you  of  our  firm  Attachment  to  His  Majesty's  sacred 
person,  Family  &  Government,  and  that  we  are  heartily  disposed  and  shall  at 
all  times  esteem  it  a  most  essential  part  of  our  Duty  whilst  we  are  propagat- 
ing- the  interest  of  Religion  &  Virtue  to  inculcate  obedience  to  our  most  Gra- 

<_>  «_> 

cious  Sovereign  and  to  all  who  are  put  in  authority  under  him. 

"  Actuated  by  such  principles  as  these  we  cannot  entertain  any  doubts  of 
receiving  your  Honor's  patronage  and  protection  both  in  our  collective  and 
single  capacities.  The  close  connexion  between  Religion  and  Civil  Govern- 
ment, between  the  Increase  of  Virtue  and  the  Prosperity  of  a  Nation  might  be 
alone  sufficient  to  afford  us  these  sanguine  expectations.  But  when  we  con- 
sider your  Honor  is  a  professed  Member  of  the  Church  of  England  and  well 
affected  to  her  Doctrines  and  Discipline  we  have  still  greater  reason  to  en- 
tertain these  hopes. 

"  To  consider  the  State  of  Religion  in  General  and  the  Situation  and  the 
Circumstances  of  our  own  Church  in  particular,  and  to  confer  together  upon 
the  most  proper  means  of  promoting  the  one  and  advancing  the  other,  is  the 
sole  design  of  our  present  Meeting.  And  in  this  we  do  but  comply  with  the 
particular  instructions  of  that  Venerable  Society  in  whose  service,  under  that 
of  our  Lord  &  Master  Jesus  Christ,  most  of  us  here  present  are  engaged. 

Remote  as  we  are  from  the  immediate  influence  and  jurisdiction  of  our  Eccle- 

38 


1760.]  298 

siastical  Superiors  (which  we  have  too  frequently  the  greatest  reason  to 
lament),  it  was  matter  of  the  highest  joy  and  gratitude  to  us  to  hear  your 
Honor  publickly  declaring  upon  a  former  occasion  that  you  would  afford  all 
the  countenance  &  protection  in  your  power  to  the  Church  of  England. 

"  May  we,  sir,  be  so  happy  as  to  recommend  ourselves  to  your  just  regard 
by  our  prudent  conduct  &  steady  endeavours  to  promote  a  sense  of  Piety  & 
true  Religion  among  the  People  committed  to  our  care  and  may  you  long  live 
a  blessing  to  us  all !  May  your  Administration  be  made  easy  &  happy  to 
yourself  &  continue  to  be  distinguished  by  a  firm  adherence  to  Justice,  Right 
and  Law  and  an  unshaken  Zeal  for  our  Constitution,  both  in  Church  and 
State."  (Signed,  &c.) 

The  same  being  read  it  was  approved  by  all  the  Members  present  except 
Mr.  Macclenachan  who  said  he  could  not  give  any  testimony  of  the  Gover- 
nor's former  Administration,  as  he  knew  nothing  of  the  same  from  his  per- 
sonal knowledge,  but  that  he  had  the  sincerest  regard  for  his  Honor  and 
offered  up  Prayers  for  his  prosperity.  His  second  reason  was  that  however 
much  connected  Religion  and  Civil  Government  mi^ht  be,  he  thought  it  was 
not  absolutely  necessary  to  mention  the  matter  in  our  present  circumstances. 

Then  all  the  Members  of  the  Convention  (Mr.  Macclenachan  excepted), 
waited  on  his  Honor  and  presented  the  above  mentioned  Address.  To  which 
his  Honor  was  pleased  to  return  a  kind  and  polite  answer  in  the  following 
words  : 

"  Reverend  Gentlemen,  I  am  extremely  obliged  to  you  for  this  very  kind 
address.  You  may  be  assured  of  my  constant  protection  and  readiness  to  do 
everything  in  my  power  which  may  tend  to  the  advantage  of  the  Protestant 
Religion  and  of  the  Church  of  England.  And  I  shall  at  all  times  be  pleased 
with  the  opportunity  of  seeing  and  conferring  with  you  on  any  matters  which 
you  shall  judge  serviceable  to  the  Church  in  general  or  to  any  of  yourselves 
in  particular." 

After  which  they  went  in  a  Body  to  Christ  Church  where  an  excellent  Ser- 
mon was  preached  by  the  Revd  Dr.  Smith  from  these  words  in  Psalm  the  2d  & 
8th  Verse.  "  Ask  of  me  and  I  shall  give  thee  the  Heathen  for  thine  inheritance 
and  the  utmost  parts  of  the  Earth  for  thy  possession  "  :  then  the  Convention 
adjourned  till  5  o'clock  in  the  Evening. 


299  [1760. 

Friday  Evening,  May  2d,  1760. 
The  Convention   being  met  pursuant  to  Adjournment  aforesd,    Part    of 
the  Address  to  His  Grace  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  was  laid  before  them 
and  the  Committee  requested  to  finish  the  same  by  tomorrow  Morning  at 
Nine  o'clock  to  which  time  the  Convention  adjourned. 

Saturday,  May  3d,  1760. 

The  Convention  being  met  pursuant  to  their  adjournment  there  were  pres- 
ent Dr.  Wm  Smith,  President ;  Mr.  George  Craig ;  Mr.  Philip  Reading ;  Mr. 
Wm  Sturgeon;  Mr.  Thomas  Barton;  Mr.  William  Macclenachan ;  Mr.  Charles 
Inglis ;  Mr.  Jacob  Duche ;  Mr.  Samuel  Cooke  ;  Mr.  Robert  McKean,  &  Mr. 
Hugh  Neill. 

Agreed  that  the  thanks  of  the  Convention  be  given  to  Dr.  William  Smith, 
the  President  of  the  same,  for  his  excellent  Sermon  preached  before  them  yes- 
terday and  that  he  be  requested  to  print  the  said  Sermon. 

The  Address  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  was  laid  before  the  Conven- 
tion and  read  in  the  following  words  to  wit : 

"  To  the  Right  Reverend  Father  in  God,  Thomas,  by  Divine  Permission,  Lord 

Bishop  of  London, 

"  The  Humble  Address  of  the  Missionaries  and  other 
Clergy  of  the  Church  of  England  residing  in  & 
near  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania. 

"  May  it  please  your  Lordship, 

"  We  the  Missionaries  and  other  Clergy  of  the  Church  of  England  in  & 
near  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  having  convened  in  the  City  of  Philadel- 
phia beg  leave  to  present  our  most  humble  Duty  to  your  Lordship,  our  lawful 
&  just  Diocesan,  offering  at  the  same  time  our  most  devout  thanks  to 
Almighty  God  who  has  so  long  preserved  your  Lordship's  Life  and  Faculties 
through  a  truly  venerable  old  age,  as  an  Ornament  to  our  Church  &  Nation, 

"  The  State  of  Religion  in  the  Northern  Colonies  in  America  becomes 
more  and  more  a  subject  of  importance.  It  must  not  be  dissembled  to  your 
Lordship  that  the  Church  of  England  here  is  far  from  bearing  the  most 
favorable  aspect.     This  we  conceive  is  owing  to  those  hardships  under  which 


1760.]  3°° 

our  Church  particularly  labours.  Indeed  nothing  but  the  good  Providence  of 
God  together  with  the  excellency  of  its  constitution,  the  most  assiduous  and 
extensive  Labours  of  the  Missionaries  &  the  aids  of  the  Venerable  Society 
for  propagating  the  Gospel  whom  we  pray  God  to  bless  and  preserve,  hitherto 
secures  the  visibility  of  our  Church  ;  for  while  every  other  denomination  is 
guarded  by  some  plan  of  discipline,  we  alone  are  left  without  that  necessary 
assistance,  without  a  Head  to  guide  us  with  Counsel,  Authority  to  correct 
abuses,  or  a  jurisdiction  to  ascertain  the  just  privileges  of  our  Ministry  and 
Congregations. 

"To  do  the  best  in  our  power  under  such  circumstances  as  these,  we 
thought  it  might  conduce  to  the  advancement  of  Religion  in  general,  and  the 
situation  of  our  Church  in  particular  to  confer  together  in  a  voluntary  &  free 
Convention  upon  the  most  proper  means  of  promoting  the  one  &  advancing 
the  other;  and  herewith  we  transmit  to  your  Lordship  a  Copy  of  our  Pro- 
ceedings and  a  general  account  of  the  State  of  the  Missions  in  this  Province. 

"Among  many  other  inconveniences  which  we  think  greatly  disturb  the 
peace  of  our  Church,  that  of  the  want  of  order  in  moving  from  one  Mission 
or  Congregation  to  another  is  like  to  become  a  very  great  one.  As  we 
think  it  indecent  as  well  as  hurtful  to  Religion  for  Ministers  to  leave  their 
Congregations  abruptly  without  others  to  supply  their  places,  so  we  humbly 
apprehend  that  it  would  greatly  tend  to  promote  peace  &  good  order  if  it 
was  a  standing  Rule  that  there  should  be  no  removal  from  one  Mission  to 
another  without  the  Society's  express  Leave  nor  from  one  Congregation  or 
Province  to  another  without  your  Lordship's  particular  Licence  for  that  pur- 
pose, after  your  Lordship  has  been  furnished  with  authentick  Documents  for 
judging  of  the  necessity  of  such  a  removal  and  the  fitness  of  such  a  person  to 
supply  the  vacant  cure ;  a  method  similar  to  this  has  ever  been  observed  in 
our  Mother  Country,  as  we  apprehend  to  the  great  advantage  of  the  Church. 

"With  the  utmost  gratitude  we  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  200  Volumes  of 
your  Lordship's  most  excellent  &  valuable  Sermons,  sent  down  to  us  this  day 
by  his  Honor  the  Governor  of  this  Province ;  and  we  have  unanimously  made 
such  a  division  of  them  among  the  several  Missions  &  Episcopal  Congrega- 
tions in  this  Province  as  we  judged  would  most  effectually  answer  your  Lord- 
ship's benevolent  designs. 

"  Praying  for  your  Lordship's  Blessing,  Advice  &  Directions  in  these  and 
all  matters  relating  to  the  discharge  of  our  Sacred  Functions  &  that  your 


3QI  [1760. 

Lordship  having  finished  your  Mortal  Course  on  Earth  may  be  translated  to 
the  Kingdom  of  our  Great  Lord  and  Master, 

"We  are  my  Lord, 

"Your  Lordship's  most  dutiful  Sons, 
"and  Obedient  Servants," 

(Signed,  &c.) 

And  the  same  being  unanimously  agreed  to  was  ordered  to  be  engrossed ; 
then  the  Convention  adjourned  till  5  o'clock  this  Evening. 

At  the  same  time  the  Address  to  his  Grace  the  Archbishop  was  read  and 
finally  approved  of.  [His  Grace  having  the  original,  that  address  is  not 
inserted  in  this  copy.] 

Saturday  Evening,  May  3d,  1 760. 

The  Convention  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present  Doctor  William 
Smith,  President;  Mr.  George  Craig;  Mr.  Philip  Reading;  Mr.  William  Stur- 
geon ;  Mr.  Thomas  Barton  ;  Mr.  Macclenachan  ;  Mr.  Charles  Inglis  ;  Mr.  Jacob 
Duche ;  Mr.  Samuel  Cooke ;  Mr.  Robert  McKean  &  Mr.  Hugh  Neill. 

The  Revd  Dr.  Smith  reported  to  the  Convention  that  his  Honor  the  Gov- 
ernor had  sent  down  a  box  containing  200  of  the  second  volume  of  the  Bishop 
of  London's  Sermons,  being  his  Lordship's  generous  Gift  for  the  use  of  the 
Churches  in  Pennsylvania  ;  and  that  his  Honor  desired  a  proper  distribution 
might  be  made  of  them  to  the  several  members  present ;  to  be  given  away  by 
them  on  their  return  home  in  such  manner  as  they  thought  might  best  answer 
his  Lordship's  pious  designs  ;  and  accordingly  it  was  agreed  to  distribute  them 
as  follows,  viz1: 


To  his  Honor  the  Governor,     .         .         .         .         .  .         .         .         8 

To  the  Revd  Dr.  Jenney  for  the  use  of  Christ  Church,  ....       60 

To  Mr.  Craig  for  the  Mission  of  Chester,     .  .  .  .         .         .         .10 

To  Mr.  Reading  for  the  Mission  of  Apoquimininck,     .         .  .  .         .12 

To  Mr.  Ross  for  the  Mission  of  New  Castle,         ......         6 

To  Mr.  Inglis  for  the  Mission  of  Dover  and  Lewis,     .         .         .  .         .18 

To  Mr.  Barton  for  the  Mission  of  Lancaster  and  over  Susquehanna,     .  .       30 

To  Mr.  Curry  for  the  Mission  of  Radnor,  .         .  .         .         .  .12 

To  Mr.  Neill  for  the  Mission  of  Oxford, 12 

To  Mr.  Campbell  for  the  Mission  of  Bristol,        ......         6 


1760.]  3°2 

To  Doctor  Smith,       ...........         6 

To  Mr.  Richard  Peters, 6 

To  the  Ministers  of  other  Denominations,  .  .  .         .         .         .14 


Agreed  that  a  copy  of  an  address  be  prepared  to  the  Hon'ble  the  Proprie- 
tors &  Mr.  Barton  be  appointed  to  prepare  the  same. 

Agreed  that  the  next  Convention  be  held  in  Philadelphia  on  the  last  Wed- 
nesday in  April  next  and  that  Mr.  Curry  be  requested  to  prepare  a  Sermon 
for  the  occasion  and  in  case  of  his  refusal  Mr.  Craigf  be  desired  to  undertake 
the  same.  Then  the  Convention  adjourned  till  five  o'clock  to-morrow  even- 
ing. 

Sunday  Evening,  May  4th,  1760. 

The  Convention  being  met  pursuant  to  adjournment  of  whom  were  pres- 
ent Dr.  William  Smith,  President ;  Mr.  George  Craig  ;  Mr.  Philip  Reading ;  Mr. 
William  Sturgeon;  Mr.  Thomas  Barton;  Mr.  William  Macclenachan ;  Mr. 
Charles  Inglis  ;  Mr.  Jacob  Duche  ;  Mr.  Samuel  Cooke ;  Mr.  Robert  McKean, 
&  Mr.  Hugh  Neill.  " 

The  Revd  Mr.  William  Thompson  having  arrived  this  day  in  a  ship  from 
London  and  having  produced  Letters  from  Dr.  Bearcroft  certifying  his  ap- 
pointment to  succeed  Mr.  Barton  in  the  Missions  of  York  and  Cumberland, 
took  his  seat  in  the  Convention.  A  Letter  from  the  Revd  Dr.  Bearcroft,  dated 
Charter  House  February  the  20th,  1760,  to  the  Revd  Dr.  Jenrtey  having  been 
laid  before  the  Convention,  intimating  the  Society's  disapprobation  of  Mr.  Mac- 
clenachan's  conduct  in  this  place,  &  that  neither  his  Letter  to  the  Society,  nor 
the  solicitations  of  some  other  particular  Gentlemen  would  prevail  on  the  Lord 
Bishop  of  London  to  License  him  to  officiate  in  the  Church  at  Philadelphia.  It 
was  moved  whether  the  Convention  could  after  the  receipt  of  such  a  Letter, 
allow  Mr.  Macclenachan  to  appear  amongst  them  under  the  denomination  of 
Assistant  Minister  in  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia  ;  and  it  was  unanimously  car- 
ried in  the  negative.  But  our  offer  was  made  him  that  he  might  sign  the  ad- 
dress to  the  Bishop  of  London  or  any  other  Papers  as  a  clergyman  of  the 
Church,  &  as  such  might  still  sit  in  Convention,  which  he  refused,  protesting 
against  the  Convention  as  a  parcel  of  designing  crafty  men  and  desired  that 
his  name  might  be  erased  from  the  Papers  he  had  already  signed  which  being 
refused  him  he  violently  seized  on  the  address  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  then 


3o3  [i76o. 

in  the  Secretary's  hand  with  a  view  as  it  appeared  to  tear  his  name  from  it  ; 
which  the  President  observing  at  the  same  time  laid  hold  of  it,  &  the  said 
Mr.  Macclenachan  endeavouring  still  to  make  himself  master  of  it,  tore  off  a  cor- 
ner and  some  Letters  of  the  writing,  upon  which  he  left  the  Room  declaring 
he  would  have  no  more  to  do  with  the  Convention.  Mr.  Macclenachan 
being  gone,  the  Revd  Doctor  Jenney  made  a  motion  desiring  the  advice  of  the 
Convention,  whether  after  the  receipt  of  the  above  mentioned  letter  from  Dr. 
Bearcroft,  he  ought  to  allow  the  said  Mr.  Macclenachan  the  use  of  his  Pulpit ; 
thereupon  the  Convention  agreed  to  take  the  same  into  consideration  and 
then  adjourned  to  Monday  morning  seven  o'clock. 

Monday  Morning,  May  5th,  1 760. 

The  Convention  being  met  of  whom  were  present  the  Revd  Dr.  Smith, 
President ;  Mr.  George  Craig  ;  Mr.  Philip  Reading  ;  Mr.  Thomas  Barton  ;  Mr. 
Charles  Inglis  ;  Mr.  Hugh  Neill ;  Mr.  Jacob  Duche  ;  Mr.  Samuel  Cooke ;  Mr. 
Robert  McKean  &  Mr.  William  Thompson. 

The  Address  to  the  Honorable  Proprietaries  was  laid  before  the  Conven- 
tion and  read  in  the  following  words  : 

"  To  the  Honorable  Thomas  Penn  &  Richard  Penn,  Esqrs.,  true  and  absolute 
Proprietaries  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  and  Counties  of  New  Cas- 
tle, Kent  &  Sussex  on  Delaware. 
May  it  please  your  Honors  : 

"  We,  the  Clergy  of  the  Church  of  England,  in  the  Province  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Counties  annexed,  having  met  together  in  free  and  voluntary  con- 
vention to  confer  on  such  matters  as  we  thought  might  be  conducive  to  the 
general  service  of  Religion,  beg  leave  to  embrace  so  favorable  an  opportunity 
to  assure  you  of  our  sincere  regards  to  the  honorable  Proprietary  family. 

"  At  the  same  time  that  we  do  this  we  beg  leave  also  to  express  our  grate- 
ful sense  of  the  many  invaluable  privileges  which,  as  members  of  community, 
we  enjoy  under  the  Charter  granted  to  this  Province  by  your  Honorable  and 
Worthy  Father,  whose  memory  we  regard,  and  our  sincere  Resolution  to  take 
every  opportunity  in  our  power  to  promote  its  best  interests. 

"  We  are  persuaded  this  will  ever  be  the  most  effectual  means  of  recom- 
mending ourselves  to  your  Favour  and  countenance,  which  we  hope  to  be  so 
happy  as  to  enjoy,  while  our  best  endeavours  will  be  directed  at  deserving  them. 


1760.]  3°4 

"  Wishing  you  every  Felicity,  temporal  and  eternal,  We  are  may  it  please 
your  Honors, 

"  Your  most  obed'  &  affectionate  humble  servts., 
"  Philadelphia,  May  5,  1760."  (Signed,  &c.) 

And  the  same  being  approved  was  ordered  to  be  engrossed.  After  which 
the  Revd  Mess".  Cook  &  McKean  desired  leave  to  add  the  following  words : 

"  We  the  Subscribers  Missionaries  in  New  Jersey,  assisting  in  this  Con- 
vention beg  leave  to  join  with  our  Reverend  Brethren  in  the  sincere  testimony 
they  have  given  of  their  Regards  to  the  Honble  Proprietary  Family. 

"Samuel  Cooke,     1    »^.    .  A7-       ~         „ 

„  .,  ,„  \  Missionaries  in  New   Jersey. 

"Robert  McKean,  J  J 

The  Convention  having  taken  the  aforesaid  Request  of  Dr.  Jenney's  into 
consideration  &  considering  the  very  bad  light  in  which  by  sundry  Letters  re- 
ceived yesterday  it  appears  that  Mr.  Macclenachan's  conduct  stands  with  the 
Bishop  of  London,  Dr.  Bearcroft  &  the  Society,  &  considering  farther  his  ex- 
ceeding ill  behaviour  to  the  members  of  this  Convention  during  their  sitting 
— his  scurrilous  and  abusive  language  to  many  of  them,  his  railings  and 
revilings  of  his  Brethren  in  the  Pulpit,  his  singular  manner  of  preaching,  &c, 
it  was  agreed  that  tho'  they  would  be  under  no  difficulty  what  part  to  act  with 
respect  to  Mr.  Macclenachan  were  he  to  offer  to  preach  in  any  of  their  Pulpits, 
yet  as  the  particular  case  of  this  congregation  lay  before  the  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don, whose  answer  will  be  a  final  determination,  the  Convention  had  made  it 
a  rule  ever  since  this  meeting  not  to  interfere  with  anything  relative  to  the 
same,  in  which  Resolution  they  still  continue. 

Agreed  that  the  custody  of  the  Minutes  of  the  whole  proceedings  remain 
with  the  Secretary  till  the  meeting  of  the  next  convention,  and  that  Dr.  Smith, 
Mr.  Sturgeon,  Mr.  Neill,  Mr.  Craig,  and  Mr.  Duche  or  a  majority  of  them  be  a 
Committee  to  compare  the  Record  with  the  Originals  and  to  consider  the  state 
of  the  Missions,  to  be  transmitted  with  the  other  Papers  to  the  Archbishop, 
Bishop  of  London,  and  the  Society,  and  that  they  shall  have  free  use  and  com- 
mand of  the  minutes  and  other  Papers  relating  to  the  business  of  the  Con- 
vention as  often  as  they  shall  have  occasion  to  call  for  them,  and  that  none  of 
the  Papers  or  any  Copies  of  them  be  delivered  to  any  Persons  whatsoever 
(except  as  above),  without  the  direction  of  the  Committee  as  aforesaid. 


305  [1760. 

Agreed  that  the  Revd  Dr.  Smith  be  desired  to  transmit  the  several  Ad- 
dresses mentioned  in  the  above  and  foregoing  minutes,  together  with  the 
other  Papers  and  Duplicates  thereof,  and  that  all  Minutes  and  Duplicates  of 
Papers  be  signed  and  certified  by  the  President  and  Secretary  in  the  Name  of 
the  Convention.  And  then  the  Convention  broke  up  till  the  last  Wednesday 
in  April  next  ensuing,  unless  sooner  called  together  by  the  Committee  or  a 
majority  of  them. 

Here  end  the  minutes  of  the  Convention. 

(Signed,)  WILLIAM  SMITH,  President. 

JAMES  HUMPHREYS,  Secretary. 


Minutes  of  the  COMMITTEE. 


The  Revd  Dr.  Smith,  Mr.  Sturgeon,  Mr.  Craig,  Mr.  Neill,  Mr.  Duche  (to- 
gether with  the  Revd  Dr.  Jenney  when  able),  having  been  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee for  the  transacting  of  such  matters  as  may  be  of  general  concern  to 
the  Church  in  Pennsylvania  at  the  present  crisis,  the  following  is  a  Copy  of 
what  matters  have  come  before  them,  viz. : 

May  28th,  1760,  the  Revd  Dr.  Smith,  having  had  some  conversation  with 
the  Moderator  of  the  Presbyterian  Synod  now  sitting  at  Philadelphia,  and 
being  informed  by  him  that  some  of  their  members  were  about  to  send  Home 
an  address  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  in  favor  of  Mr.  Macclenaghan, 
the  Committee  thought  it  proper  to  draw  up  the  following  Letter  to  the  Synod 
and  to  send  Mr.  Neill  to  deliver  the  same,  viz : 

To  the  United  Synod  of  New  York  and   Philadelphia  now  sitting  at  Phila- 
delphia : 

Reverend  Gentlemen, 

Being  well  informed  that  the  Moderator,  as  well  as  many  of  your  Body, 
have  signed  a  certain  paper  to  his  Grace  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  in 
favor  of  one  Mr.  Macclenaghan,  at  present  in  the  orders  of  our  Church,  and 


1760.]  3°6 

who  is  very  well  known  to  stand  in  a  very  exceptionable  point  of  light,  not 
only  with  all  his  Brethren  here  but  also  with  our  Superiors  in  the  Church  at 
home,  we  beg  the  favor  of  being  acquainted  whether  the  signing  the  said 
Paper  be  a  Synodical  act  ?  Or,  if  it  is  not,  we  humbly  submit  to  you  what 
censure  may  be  due  to  such  of  your  members  as  have  thus  concerned  them- 
selves in  the  affairs  of  our  Church?  We  likewise  request  that  we  may  be 
favoured  with  a  copy  of  the  aforesaid  Paper. 

We  do  not  make  this  application  as  if  we  apprehended  that  our  present 
worthy  Prelates,  who  are  men  remarkable  for  their  prudence  and  penetration 
are  capable  of  being  biassed  by  any  such  proceedings  ;  or  that  our  own  clergy 
have  in  any  instance  demeaned  themselves  so  ill  that  the  certificates  of  other 
societies  should  be  received  in  the  room  of  theirs.  But  we  do  it  from  a  sincere 
desire  that  the  same  good  understanding  which  has  hitherto  happily  subsisted 
between  our  Ministry  and  yours  may  not  be  interrupted  by  any  imprudent  or 
unbrotherly  conduct  on  either  side. 
(Signed,) 

Robert  Jenney,  William  Sturgeon, 

William  Smith,  Jacob  Duche, 

Thomas  Barton,  Hugh  Neill. 

The  above  Letter  being  read  in  the  Synod  they  entered  the  following 
minute  in  their  Books  relative  thereto  &  delivered  a  copy  thereof  to  the  Revd 
Dr.  Smith,  viz1 : 

An  address  from  the  clergy  of  the  Church  of  England  belonging  to  this 
city  was  brought  in  and  read  wherein  they  complain  that  some  Members  of 
this  Synod  have  intermeddled  in  their  Church  affairs  to  their  disliking  &  query 
whether  the  Paper  which  they  say  was  signed  by  the  Moderator  and  some 
other  members  was  signed  as  a  Synodical  act. 

The  Synod  assure  these  Revd  Gentlemen  that  they  never  signed  it  as  a 
Synodical  Body  nor  heard  the  Paper  read  in  Synod,  nor  was  it  as  much  as 
made  known  to  many  of  the  Members  of  this  Body.  As  we  have  not  seen  the 
Paper  we  cannot  judge  how  far  they  have  concerned  themselves  in  the  affairs 
of  that  church.  We  desire  to  intermeddle  with  no  affairs  that  do  not  belong  to 
us,  but  as  a  Body  can  neither  prevent  the  private  correspondence  of  our  mem- 
bers nor  oblige  them  to  produce  their  Letters.     But  we  presume  if  application 


3°7  [1760. 

should  be  made  to  the  Persons  who  have  written,  a  sight  of  the  Paper  may  be 
obtained,  and  we  heartily  desire  that  the  same  good  understanding  which  has 
hitherto  happily  subsisted  between  us  and  the  Reverend  Gentlemen  of  the 
Church  of  England  may  still  continue.  [Copied  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Synod 
by  John  Ewing,  Synod  Ok.] 

Next  morning,  viz1,  May  28,  1760,  the  Revd  Moderator  of  the  said  Synod 
delivered  to  Dr.  Smith  a  copy  of  the  Address  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury 
respecting  Mr.  Macclenaghan  but  declined  to  give  the  names  of  the  persons 
who  had  subscribed  the  same. 

An  Address  of  some   Presbyterian    Ministers  to  his   Grace  the  Archbishop 

of  Canterbury  in  behalf  of  the  Revd  Mr.  Macclenaghan. 
May  it  please  your  Grace, 

Encouraged  by  the  amiable  and  excellent  character  we  have  had  of  your 
Grace  as  a  sincere  &  catholick  Friend  to  truth  &  practical  Religion,  we,  min- 
isters of  the  Presbyterian  Denomination  in  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania, 
New  Jersey  &  New  York,  providentially  convened  in  Philadelphia,  unsolicited 
by  the  Gentleman  concerned,  beg  leave  in  the  most  respectful  manner  to  ad- 
dress your  Grace  in  the  only  way  which  our  distance  will  admit  as  Witnesses 
&  Petitioners  for  what  we  cannot  but  account  the  common  cause  of  Truth  & 
Religion  and  one  of  its  successful  &  popular  Advocates  in  these  parts,  namely, 
the  Revd  Wm  Macclenaghan.  This  Gentleman  has  for  some  time  past  offici- 
ated in  Philadelphia  as  Assistant  to  the  Revd  Dr.  Jenney  and  has  given  such 
publick  specimens  of  his  zeal  for  the  Doctrines  of  Christianity  as  contained  in 
the  articles  of  the  Church  of  England  and  so  remarkable  a  blessing  has  attend- 
ed  his  ministry  in  some  striking  instances  of  unquestionable  Reformation  from 
Vice  and  Infidelity  that  from  what  we  personally  know  or  have  heard  of  him 
we  cannot  but  look  upon  him  as  worthy  of  our  warm  and  hearty  recommenda- 
tion ;  and  we  beg  leave  to  assure  your  Grace  that  tho'  we  will  not  be  account- 
able for  any  man's  prudentials  in  every  step  of  his  conduct  even  in  carrying  on 
the  best  design,  nor  presume  to  determine  future  contingencies,  yet  it  is  our 
humble  opinion,  that  his  continuing  to  officiate  in  Philadelphia  will  greatly  tend 
to  advance  our  common  Christianity:  and  therefore  we  most  earnestly  pray 
your  Grace  would  use  your  utmost  influence  to  have  him  inducted  and  settled 
in  said  city. 

We  are  encouraged  &  even  constrained  thus  far  to  intermeddle  in  this  af- 


1760.]  308 

fair  by  our  disinterested  regard  to  those  fundamental  Doctrines  of  the  Chris- 
tian Religion  and  Protestant  Reformation  in  which  we  are  so  happy  as  to  agree 
with  that  Church  over  which  your  Grace  presides  &  to  the  cause  of  Virtue  & 
practical  Piety ;  a  Regard  so  warm  &  extensive  that  no  differences  in  lesser 
matters,  nor  any  selfish  attachments  to  a  party  can  extinguish  ;  and  by  the  can- 
did invitation  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  Christian  Knowledge  in  Foreign 
Parts,  that  the  Inhabitants  of  these  Plantations  would  transmit  to  them  such 
accounts  of  their  Missionaries  as  might  enable  them  to  form  a  just  estimate  of 
their  character  &  conduct.  And  did  your  Grace  but  fully  know  the  circum- 
stances of  this  affair  you  would  be  sensible  that  perhaps  no  application  was 
ever  made  to  your  Grace  with  more  unquestionable  and  self  evident  disinter- 
estedness &  impartiality.  Praying  for  your  Grace's  happiness  and  extensive 
usefulness,  we  are,  may  it  please  your  Grace, 

Your  Grace's  most  respectful 

and  most  Humble  Servants. 
Philadelphia,  May  24,  1760. 

Upon  reading  the  aforesaid  Address  it  was  considered  in  Committee 
whether  a  counter  address  should  not  be  transmitted  to  his  Grace  in  answer 
thereto.  But  it  was  at  last  agreed  that  this  would  be  unnecessary  seeing  such 
a  Paper  from  a  few  Ministers  of  another  Society  to  the  Metropolitan  of  our 
church  recommending  a  man  whom  they  could  not  be  supposed  to  know  any- 
thing of,  and  who  stands  in  the  most  disagreeable  point  of  light  with  all  his  own 
Brethren,  must  be  a  sufficient  answer  to  itself;  more  especially  when  it  is  con- 
sidered that  the  Body  of  the  said  Ministers,  met  in  their  Synod,  had  borne  their 
testimony  against  meddling  in  any  such  matter,  and  those  who  signed  the  said 
Paper,  namely,  Gilbert  Tennent  &  his  adherents,  were  men  remarkable  for 
their  fiery  zeal  &  singular  notions  about  Grace,  Instantaneous  Conversion,  &c., 
by  which  they  have  long  rent  &  divided  their  own  Society. 

June  24th.  The  Revd  Dr.  Jenney  laid  the  following  Papers  before  the  Com- 
mittee, giving  an  account  of  his  having  discharged  Mr.  Macclenaghan,  with  the 
advice  of  the  Church  Wardens  &  Vestry  from  officiating  any  more  in  the 
church  of  this  city;  and  requesting  the  Committee  that  as  he  was  unable  to 
write  himself,  by  reason  of  his  great  bodily  indisposition,  they  would  transmit 
the  said  Papers  with  the  proper  reasons  of  his  conduct  to  those  whose  business 
it  was  to  receive  them.     The  Papers  delivered  were  as  follows,  viz' : 


3°9  [1760. 

TO   THE    CHURCHWARDENS    &    VESTRYMEN   OF    CHRIST    CHURCH,    PHILA- 
DELPHIA. 

Gentlemen, 

I  take  this  opportunity  of  laying  before  you  a  Letter  which  I  have  this  day 
sent  to  the  Revd  Mr.  Macclenaghan  notifying  my  determination  of  refusing 
him  the  further  use  of  my  Pulpit  and  of  transmitting  the  reasons  of  my  conduct 
to  those  who  have  the  proper  cognizance  of  them. 

To  you  Gentlemen  who  have  been  witnesses  to  the  manner  of  this  man's 
introduction  among  us  and  the  confusions  which  he  has  ever  since  occasioned  it 
would  be  needless  to  say  much  at  present.  At  the  desire  of  many  of  you, 
tho'  with  much  reluctance  of  mind,  I  allowed  him  the  occasional  use  of  my 
Pulpit  upon  the  only  conditions  on  which  it  was  in  my  power  to  receive  him, 
namely,  his  conformity  to  the  canons  and  discipline  of  our  Church  and  his  ob- 
taining the  approbation  and  License  of  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  for  his  set- 
tlement here.  But  with  respect  to  the  latter  you  will  see  by  authentic  proofs 
which  I  lay  before  you,  in  how  bad  a  light  he  stands  with  his  late  employers, 
the  Society  at  home,  &  how  unlikely  it  is,  that  he  should  ever  receive  any  Li- 
cence or  Countenance  to  settle  here.  And  in  regard  to  his  conformity  to  our 
Church,  it  is  submitted  to  you,  how  agreeable  to  the  canons  are  his  Extempo- 
rary Praying  &  Preaching,  his  railings  and  revilings  in  the  Pulpit,  his  leaving 
our  Church  and  his  duty  during  the  time  of  divine  service  &  carrying  many 
of  the  Congregation  with  him  to  other  Societies.  These  things  added  to  his 
known  connexions  with  those  who  do  not  belong  to  our  Church,  and  have  an 
evident  interest  in  dividing  and  distracting  it,  might  have  long  ago  justified 
my  withholding  my  Pulpit  from  hiin.  But  of  late  his  aspersions  of  the  whole 
Body  of  our  Church  and  Clergy,  their  Doctrines  and  Principles,  their  Lives  & 
Writings,  have  been  so  bold  and  indiscriminate  that  I  should  have  thought 
myself  wanting  in  every  duty  had  I  suffered  my  Pulpit  to  be  any  longer  em- 
ployed for  such  purposes. 

I  trust  therefore  that  I  shall  meet  with  your  approbation  &  support  in  what 
I  have  thought  necessary  to  do  for  the  interest  &  Preservation  of  that  Church 
wherein  by  the  Grace  of  God  I  have  been  for  50  years  a  conscientious  &  I  hope 
a  faithfull  Minister. 

I  am,  with  much  regard  and  esteem, 

Gentlemen,  Your  Afflicted 

Minister  &  Faithful  Servant, 

June  17,  1760.  ROBERT  JENNEY. 


1760.]  3io 

The  Vestry  taking  the  foregoing  Letter  into  consideration  and  knowing  the 
facts  therein  contained  to  be  true,  Resolved,  that  this  Vestry  do  approve  of  Dr. 
Jenney's  having  refused  Mr.  Macclenaghan  the  use  of  his  Pulpit  until  the  Lord 
Bishop  of  London's  pleasure  be  known  upon  the  matter. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  Letter  from  Dr.  Jenney  to  Mr.  William  Mac- 
clenaghan : 

Revd  Sir, 

About  a  twelvemonth  ago,  having  been  much  sollicited  by  sundry  persons 
in  my  congregation,  I  granted  you  the  occasional  use  of  my  Pulpit.  You  must 
certainly  know  that  the  only  conditions  upon  which  it  was  in  my  power  to 
grant  this  were  your  conforming  yourself  to  the  Canons  and  Discipline  of  our 
Church,  procuring  sufficient  Testimonials  of  your  former  conduct,  &  obtaining 
the  Lord  Bishop  of  London's  License  and  Approbation  for  your  removal  to 
this  place,  but  tho'  you  have  had  sufficient  time  you  have  not  only  produced  no 
such  License  or  Approbation  but  on  the  contrary  I  am  sufficiently  assured  that 
your  whole  conduct  is  so  much  disapproved  of  that  you  will  never  obtain  any 
License,  so  that  I  might  have  been  well  warranted  in  denying  you  my  Pulpit 
some  time  ago.  But  I  must  now  tell  you  that  your  late  conduct  has  been  such 
that  even  if  you  were  Licensed  to  preach  here,  I  could  not  allow  you  anymore 
use  of  my  Pulpit  till  I  had  laid  the  matter  before  your  Superiors  ;  and  therefore 
you  are  to  take  notice  that  you  are  henceforth  to  desist  from  Preaching  in  my 
Church  or  Congregation.  My  reasons  for  this  I  shall  transmit  to  those  who 
have  the  proper  authority  to  take  cognizance  of  them. 

May  God  forgive  you  the  disturbances  you  have  made  in  my  Congrega- 
tion and  the  uneasinesses  you  have  added  to  those  which  the  Hand  of  Heaven 
and  Infirmities  of  Age  had  already  laid  upon  me. 

Sir,  Your  Humble  Servant, 

June  17,  1760.  ROBERT  JENNEY. 

The  Committee  upon  reading  the  aforesaid  Letters  took  that  opportunity 
of  testifying  their  hearty  approbation  of  the  measures  which  Dr.  Jenney  had 
taken  in  respect  of  Mr.  Macclenaghan.  They  think  the  Doctor  would  have 
been  highly  to  blame  had  he  permitted  his  Pulpit  any  longer  to  be  made  use  of 
for  the  purposes  of  railing  against  our  Clergy,  and  thereby  weakening  &  over- 
turning our  happy  Establishment.     Were  it  necessary  the  Committee  could 


3"  [1760. 

heartily  join  with  Dr.  Jenney  in  vouching  for  the  Facts  charged  against  Mr.  Mac- 
clenaghan  and  could  of  their  own  knowledge  add  many  others  which  would 
sufficiently  shew  him  to  be  no  Friend  to  our  Church  &  unfit  to  receive  any 
countenance  in  it. 

But  as  an  end  is  now  put  to  that  matter  by  the  arrival  of  the  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don's Letter  refusing  him  any  License  or  countenance  to  settle  in  this  Prov- 
ince &  desiring  him  to  withdraw  from  the  same  to  the  place  where  his  proper 
duty  lies  the  Committee  thinks  it  needless  to  write  anything  more  on  that 
head.  Mr.  Macclenaghan  has  now  thrown  off  all  dependence  upon  Bishops  & 
contrary  to  the  tenor  of  the  said  Letter,  a  Copy  of  which  has  been  communi- 
cated to  him,  still  continues  in  Philadelphia,  and  has  set  up  a  private  meeting 
or  Conventicle  of  his  own  ;  so  that  what  hurt  he  can  do  to  our  Church  (which, 
thank  God,  has  been  but  small),  he  has  already  done  &  Dr.  Jenney  it  is  be- 
lieved need  not  be  under  any  apprehension  that  Mr.  Macclenaghan  can  receive 
any  future  License  to  settle  here,  altho'  it  may  be  possible  that  his  partizans 
may  be  weak  enough  still  to  sollicit  it. 

Robert  Jenney,  William  Smith, 

William  Sturgeon,  Jacob  Duche. 

Philad\  June  27,  1760. 


SOME  ACCOUNT  of  the  MISSIONS  in  PENNSYL- 
VANIA, &".,  delivered  in  at  a  Convention  of  the  Clergy 
of  that  Province  at  Philadelphia,  May  2d,  1760. 

It  being  agreed  to  transmit  with  our  Public  Address  some  general  State  of 
the  Missions,  the  following  was  delivered  by  the  several  members  present,  re- 
ferring for  particulars  to  their  several  private  Letters  that  are  transmitted  to 
the  Society  from  time  to  time. 

THREE  LOWER  COUNTIES— MISSION  AT  LEWES. 

The  Mission  at  Lewes  remains  still  vacant  on  account  of  the  refractory 
conduct  of  the  People,  and  one  Mr.  Harris  who  intruded  himself  into  it  with- 


1 760.]  3 1 2 

out  the  Society's  Leave  and  to  the  exclusion  of  the  Missionary  they  had  ap- 
pointed some  years  ago.  Mr.  Harris  did  not  offer  to  take  his  seat  in  Conven- 
tion, but  presented  to  their  Committee  a  submission  on  his  own  part  &  that  of 
two  of  his  Churches  to  be  transmitted  to  the  Society  praying  to  be  reinstated 
in  their  favour.  But  as  the  Church  of  Lewes,  which  is  the  principal  one,  and 
the  Seat  of  the  Mission  had  not  joined  in  this  Submission  and  as  those  who 
did  join  in  it  seemed  still  desirous  of  retaining  Mr.  Harris  among  them,  the 
Committee  did  not  chuse  to  have  anything  to  do  in  transmitting  their  Papers, 
but  ordered  them  to  be  returned  to  themselves  to  be  transmitted  in  such  man- 
ner as  they  should  think  proper. 

MISSION  AT  DOVER. 

Mr.  Inglis  the  Society's  Missionary  at  Dover  attended  the  Convention  and 
gave  the  following  Account  of  his  Mission,  viz': 

The  Mission  of  Dover  includes  the  whole  county  of  Kent,  which  extends 
upwards  of  30  miles  along  the  River  Delaware.  Besides  the  Church  of  Dover 
which  stands  near  the  center  of  the  County,  there  are  two  other  Churches,  one 
at  each  end  of  it,  so  that  a  great  part  of  these  two  Congregations  come  from 
the  adjoining  Counties  New  Castle  &  Sussex. 

Kent  is  bounded  on  one  side  by  Maryland  on  the  other  by  the  River  Del- 
aware. On  the  Maryland  side  there  are  large  Tracts  of  Forrest  Lands  thinly 
settled.  The  side  near  Delaware  is  low  &  marshy  for  a  considerable  distance 
from  the  River  thick  settled.  Many  of  the  Inhabitants  of  these  Forrests  & 
Marshes  are  in  little  better  than  a  state  of  Heathenism.  Hundreds  of  them 
have  never  been  baptized  nor  heard  one  Sermon  &  hold  no  religious  commun- 
ion with  any  denomination  of  Christians.  I  went  among  the  former  of  these 
several  times  last  Autumn  on  week  days  and  preach'd.  Once  I  baptized  25 
white  children  after  Sermon.  Quakerism  has  inflicted  many;  a  lukewarmness 
&  indifference  about  Religion  prevails  almost  universally. 

There  is  however  some  prospect  of  a  reformation  especially  among  those 
who  live  in  the  better  cultivated  &  more  frequented  parts,  between  these  For- 
rests and  Marshes.  The  Church  of  Dover  which  has  stood  in  a  ruinous  con- 
dition for  many  years,  is  now  handsomely  repaired  and  finished.  The  Churches 
are  always  crowded  on  Sundays  and  People  are  constantly  asking  for  the  So- 
ciety's small  Tracts.     The  number  of  Communicants  encreases.     Last  Christ- 


3i3  [i76o. 

mas  there  were  but  46  Communicants  in  all  this  Mission.  Easter  there  were 
73,  many  of  which  never  communicated  before  and  were  heads  of  Families.  It 
is  impossible  to  ascertain  with  exactness  the  number  of  Inhabitants  in  a  county 
where  no  regular  Register  is  kept.  The  Taxables  amount  to  1 500  and  are 
not  more  than  one  third  of  the  Souls.  In  this  County  there  are  5  Presbyte- 
rian &  2  Quaker  Meeting  Houses,  all  supplied  with  Teachers  &  exercising 
the  Discipline  of  their  respective  plans  of  Government  whilst  the  Church  of 
England  without  a  Head  or  any  Discipline,  has  no  support  under  Providence 
but  what  is  given  by  the  Honorable  and  worthy  Society. 

CHARLES  INGLIS,  Miss>'  at  Dover. 

MISSION  AT  APOQUINIMINCK. 

Mr.  Reading  the  Society's  Missionary  at  this  Place  attended  the  Conven- 
tion and  gave  the  following  Account  of  his  Mission,  viz1 : 

The  Mission  of  Apoquiniminck  is  situate  in  the  lower  part  of  New  Castle 
county  on  Delaware  River  and  extends  itself  thro*  three  Divisions  or  Hundreds 
of  the  said  County.  These  people  were  very  early  objects  of  attention  to  the 
Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel.  A  congregation  according  to  the  Insti- 
tutions of  the  Church  of  England  having  united  themselves  here  under  the 
patronage  of  the  Society  aforesaid  prior  to  any  other  Religious  Denomination 
whatever.  The  New  Light  Phrenzy  which  broke  out  at  Mr.  Whitefield's  first 
appearance  on  the  Stage  of  America  took  deep  root  in  this  place  and  occa- 
sioned some  defection  from  the  Church.  Her  Members  however  are  yet  con- 
siderable enough  to  merit  a  good  degree  of  regard.  They  are  remarkable  for 
a  regular  devout  behaviour  in  time  of  Divine  Service.  The  Ordinances  of 
Religion  are  in  great  esteem  among  them  and  we  have  about  70  actual  com- 
municants. 

But  what  makes  this  Mission  of  great  consequence  to  the  Society  &  indeed 
to  every  sincere  Lover  of  the  Protestant  Cause  is  its  lying  contiguous  to  a  very 
considerable  Popish  Seminary  in  the  Neighbouring  Province  of  Maryland.  This 
Seminary  is  under  the  Direction  of  the  Jesuits.  A  Priest  of  this  Order  used 
formerly  to  Preach  and  say  Mass  at  stated  seasons  within  the  Mission  of  Apo- 
quiniminck but  the  present  Missionary  having  fixed  his  Residence  within  a 
small  distance  of  the  Place,  which  used  to  be  the  scene  of  the  Jesuits'  transac- 
tions, by  the  Blessing  of  God  a  Check  has  been  given  to  their  attempts,  and 
no  Mass  has  been  celebrated  in  Apoquiniminck  for  a  considerable  time  past. 


1760.]  3i  4 

Upon  this  occasion  it  must  with  Gratitude  be  acknowledged  that  next  to  the 
good  Providence  of  God,  it  is  chiefly  owing  to  the  Benevolence  of  the  Society, 
that  the  Church  of  England  obtains  a  visible  support  in  this  place,  and  that 
many  of  His  Majesty's  American  Subjects  are  not  seduced  to  the  Popish  Re- 
ligion. 

This  is  a  general  view  of  the  present  State  of  the  Mission  at  Apoquini- 
minck.  For  particulars  the  Missionary  begs  leave  to  refer  to  the  Correspond- 
ence he  regularly  observes  with  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in 
Foreign  Parts. 

PHILIP  READING. 

MISSION   AT   NEW    CASTLE. 

Mr.  Ross,  the  Society's  Missionary,  did  not  attend  the  Convention  by 
reason  of  indisposition,  and  his  Mission  is  far  from  being  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition. The  Church  at  New  Castle  is  but  very  thin  of  people  ;  and  the  other 
Church  appendant  to  this  Mission,  which  is  the  most  numerous,  has  altogether 
refused  to  receive  him. 

PROVINCE  OF  PENNSYLVANIA  — MISSION  OF  CHESTER. 

Mr.  Craig,  the  Society's  Missionary  at  this  place,  attended  the  Conven- 
tion. His  Mission  had  suffered  greatly  on  account  of  the  bad  character  of  his 
predecessor  Mr.  Thompson  ;  and  Mr.  Craig  being  lately  settled  at  Chester  is 
doing  his  best  to  bring  matters  into  some  proper  order. 

PHILADELPHIA. 

With  respect  to  the  Church  in  this  great  and  growing  City  nothing  need 
be  inserted  here,  a  full  account  of  everything  relating  to  it  being  already 
transmitted. 

MISSION  AT  OXFORD. 

Mr.  Neill,  the  Society's  Missionary  at  this  place,  attended  the  Convention. 
His  Mission  is  in  a  very  flourishing  way,  and  besides  the  duty  of  his  two 
Churches  he  has  lately  opened  a  Sunday  Evening  Lecture  at  German  Town, 
a  large  Village  containing  about  300  Houses  within  7  miles  of  Philadelphia, 
and  inhabited  chiefly  by  Germans.  His  Glebe  House  having  lately  been 
burnt  down,  a  very  liberal  contribution  was  made  in  and  about  Philadelphia 
for  rebuilding  the  same. 


3i5  [i76o. 

MISSION  AT  RADNOR. 

Mr.  Currie,  the  Society's  Missionary  here,  labours  under  great  Indisposi- 
tion of  Body,  and  could  not  attend  the  Convention.  He  is  much  esteemed  in 
his  Mission,  which  is  a  very  extensive  one,  and  neglects  no  opportunity  that 
his  Health  will  permit  of  doing  his  duty. 

MISSION  AT  LANCASTER. 

Mr.  Barton,  the  Society's  Missionary  at  this  place,  attended  the  Conven- 
tion and  gave  the  following  account : 

Lancaster  is  a  large  Town  having  near  600  Houses,  inhabited  chiefly  by 
Germans  of  almost  every  Religious  Denomination.  It  contains  one  Church 
of  England  which  is  but  small,  a  large  German  Calvinist  Church,  a  Lutheran 
Church,  a  Moravian  Church,  a  large  Quaker  Meeting  House,  a  Popish 
Chapel ;  and  a  Presbyterian  Church  is  now  erecting.  The  principal  Germans 
are  Lutherans  and  might  easily  be  brought  to  unite  with  the  Church.  In  this 
place  are  a  few  Families  of  Jews,  who  read  and  observe  their  Talmud  with 
great  exactness  tho'  they  have  no  Synagogue.  The  Country  round  about 
Lancaster  for  several  miles  is  posses'd  by  the  Menonnists,  who  by  their  industry 
and  great  economy  have  acquired  riches  and  plenty.  They  seem  to  be  a  sim- 
ple inoffensive  kind  of  people — with  their  Doctrine  and  principles  I  am  not  much 
acquainted,  but  find  them  in  many  things  to  agree  with  those  of  the  Quakers. 
They  use  the  same  mode  of  Dress,  refuse  to  put  off  the  Hat,  or  shew  any 
respect  to  Superiors ;  and  chuse  rather  to  leave  their  Properties  and  Liberty 
exposed  to  the  first  Invader,  than  bear  arms  in  their  Defence  ;  so  that  a  few 
artful  Men  misdit  soon  brine  the  whole  of  them  to  Quakerism.  About  20 
miles  from  Lancaster  is  Caernarvon,  a  thick  settlement  of  Welch  belonging  to 
this  Mission  and  sincere  Members  of  the  Church  of  England.  They  have 
built  a  new  Church  of  hewn  Stone  and  are  now  finishing  the  Inside  of  it,  to 
which  they  have  given  the  Name  of  Bangor  from  their  native  Diocese  in 
Wales.  To  this  Church  belongs  a  good  Glebe  and  the  provision  made  for  a 
Minister  is  as  good  as  can  be  expected. 

Pequea  is  a  very  large  fine  Settlement  18  miles  from  Lancaster.  It  is 
chiefly  inhabited  by  Irish  and  Pennsylvanians,  above  three-fourths  of  which  are 
Dissenters.  There  are  about  40  Families  of  the  Established  Church,  who 
have  erected  a  decent  Stone  Church,  which  they  dedicated  to  St.  John.     They 


1760.]  3i  6 

are  now  building  a  Pulpit,  Communion  Table  and  enclosing-  the  Grave  Yard 
with  a  Stone  wall.  These  people  are  possessed  with  a  Spirit  of  Religion  and 
Emulation.  They  have  a  good  Glebe  and  have  lately  rated  their  Pews,  as 
high  as  their  circumstances  will  admit.  I  make  no  doubt  but  in  a  short  time 
this  Church  will  be  one  of  the  most  flourishing  in  the  Province. 

THO.  BARTON. 

MISSION  IN  YORK  AND  CUMBERLAND. 

Mr.  Thompson  appointed  to  succeed  Mr.  Barton  in  this  Mission  arrived 
from  England  during  the  Sitting  of  the  Convention,  and  took  his  Seat  therein. 
It  is  a  very  extensive  Mission  ;  and  has  at  present  three  Congregations  which 
the  Missionary  attends,  viz  : 

Ist.  Huntingdon  in  York  County  in  which  by  Mr.  Barton's  Account, 
there  are  about  50  Families  belonging  to  the  Church.  2d.  The  Congregation 
in  the  Town  of  York  is  but  small.  3d.  The  third  Congregation  is  at  Carlisle 
the  chief  Town  in  Cumberland  which  has  been  much  disturbed  during  the 
War.  There  are  about  20  Families  belono-ing-  to  the  Church  in  it;  but  since 
our  success  against  the  French,  it  is  now  become  a  great  and  populous  place. 
The  People  are  returning  everywhere  to  the  places  they  had  abandoned  and 
within  the  last  18  months  the  number  of  Houses  and  Inhabitants  in  Carlisle 
are  doubled. 

BERKS  AND  NORTHAMPTON. 

These  are  two  Frontier  Counties,  in  which  the  Society  have  no  Missions 
at  all.  In  &  about  Reading  the  chief  Town  of  Berks,  a  Mission  micdit  be 
opened  to  great  advantage  ;  and  the  People  are  now  about  framing  a  Peti- 
tion to  the  Society  &  making  a  Subscription  in  order  if  possible  to  obtain 
an  English  Missionary  in  those  places  where  there  is  at  present  scarce  any 
Religious  Worship,  except  what  is  kept  among  the  Germans  in  their  own 
Language. 

At  Easton  the  chief  Town  of  Northampton  a  Mission  may  in  time  be 
opened  with  great  advantage.  At  present  it  may  sometimes  fall  in  the  way  of 
Mr.  Morton  who  is  appointed  to  an  Itinerant  Mission  in  New  Jersey. 

For  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 
[Endorsed.] 

Rec'd  from  Dr.  Bearcroft  Aug.  19,  1760. 


3l7  [1760. 

To  the  Most  Reverend  His  Grace  THOMAS,  by  Divine 
Providence,  LORD  ARCHBISHOP  OF  CANTER- 
BURY,  Metropolitan,    $sf   Primate   of  all  England. 


The  Humble  Address  of  die  Missionaries  and  other 
Clergy  of  the  Church  of  England  residing  in  & 
near  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania. 

We  the  Missionaries  and  other  Clergy  of  the  Church  of  England  residing 
in  and  near  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  having  conven'd  in  the  City  of 
Philadelphia  beg  leave  to  present  our  most  humble  Duty  to  your  Grace  and 
to  assure  you  of  our  zealous  Attachment  to  the  interest  of  that  Church  in 
whose  service  we  have  the  honor  to  be  eng-ao-ed. 

Your  Grace's  Elevation  to  the  Primacy  of  all  England  cannot  give  greater 
pleasure  to  any  than  to  your  obedient  Sons  now  joining  in  this  Address. 

In  the  accomplishment  of  this  event  we  see  the  good  Providence  of  God 
in  behalf  of  the  Protestant  cause  clearly  manifested ;  the  character  of 
Defender  of  the  Faith  in  our  Sovereign  amply  exerting  itself;  the  wisdom  of 
the  present  glorious  Administration  every  way  justified;  and  the  purity  of  our 
Religion  amiably  recommended  in  the  truly  primative  &  Apostolical  Example 
of  your  Grace  under  God  and  the  King  the  present  Head  of  our  Church. 

To  assure  the  Government  under  whose  protection  we  reside  of  our  in- 
violable attachment  to  his  present  most  glorious  Majesty  and  his  illustrious 
House,  To  confer  mutually  on  such  subjects  as  are  best  adapted  to  our  duty 
as  Ministers ;  To  assist  each  other  with  such  comfort  &  counsel  as  the  exi- 
gencies of  our  respective  Congregations  may  require,  are  the  sole  points  we 
have  in  view  in  our  present  voluntary  Convention.  And  we  herewith  trans- 
mit to  your  Grace  a  Copy  of  our  Proceedings  as  also  a  brief  State  of  the 
several  Missions.  We  have  nothing  more  at  heart  than  the  Glory  of  that 
God  whom  we  serve,  and  the  Salvation  of  those  whose  Souls  are  committed 
to  our  charge. 

The  state  of  Religion  in  North  American  Colonies  becomes  more  &  more 
the  subject  of  high  importance.     And  it  must  not  be  dissembled  to  your  Grace 


1760.]  3*8 

that  the  Church  of  England  here  is  far  from  bearing  the  most  favorable 
aspect.  This  we  humbly  conceive  is  owing  to  those  hardships  under  which 
our  Church  peculiarly  labours.  Indeed  nothing  but  the  good  Providence  of 
God  together  with  the  Excellency  of  its  Constitution  ;  the  most  assiduous  & 
extensive  labours  of  the  Missionaries,  and  the  Aids  of  the  Venerable  Society 
for  Propagating  the  Gospel  whom  we  pray  God  to  bless  &  preserve,  hitherto 
secure  the  visibility  of  our  Church.  For  while  every  other  Denomination  is 
guarded  by  some  plan  of  Discipline  we  alone  are  left  without  that  necessary 
assistance,  without  a  Head  to  guide  us  with  counsel,  an  authority  to  correct 
abuses,  or  a  Jurisdiction  to  appeal  to  for  ascertaining  the  just  privileges  of 
our  Ministry  and  Congregations. 

It  is  with  concern,  my  Lord,  we  are  compelled  to  observe,  that  the  more 
flourishing  and  populous  our  Colonies  become,  the  more  alarming  is  our 
situation.  Seminaries  of  Learning  are  now  erected  in  many  of  the  most 
noted  Provinces,  particularly  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia  under  the  conduct  of 
Professors  of  approved  worth,  whose  Abilities  are  every  way  equal  to  such 
a  Task. 

The  Inhabitants  of  this  Country  of  European  Extraction  are  quite  deprived 
of  the  benefits  arising  from  the  Episcopal  Office  &  particularly  of  the  Apos- 
tolical Rite  of  Confirmation.  Very  few  have  either  inclination  or  capacity  to 
attend  to  those  essential  differences  by  which  the  Constitution  of  our  Church 
is  distinguished. 

The  inconvenience  of  passing  &  repassing  the  dangerous  Atlantic,  being 
added  to  these  difficulties  will  we  apprehend  induce  many  to  Educate  their 
Children  to  the  Dissenting  Ministry  rather  than  ours,  so  that  our  Church  will 
not  have  such  full  advantages  from  these  Seminaries  of  Learning  as  she 
otherwise  might  have. 

These,  my  Lord,  are  the  chief  of  those  points  which  have  fallen  under  our 
present  consideration,  &  which  principally  retard  the  growth  of  our  Church. 
It  is  needless  for  us  to  point  out  the  remedy  of  these  evils  to  a  Prelate  of  your 
Grace's  penetration  and  judgment  or  to  say  that  the  appointing  a  Bishop  or 
Bishops  in  America  would  with  the  divine  assistance  be  the  most  effectual 
method  to  remove  these  difficulties. 

We  shall  therefore  detain  your  Grace  no  longer  than  just  to  crave  your 
Blessing  and  Direction  on  these  and  all  other  deliberations  for  the  advance- 
ment of  Christ's  Kingdom  in  general  and  the  good  of  this  particular  Branch 
of  his  Church. 


319  [i76o. 

And  that  the  JEra.  of  your  Grace's  Primacy  in  the  Church  Militant  may  be 
rendered  eminently  glorious  by  introducing  the  Episcopal  Character  into 
America,  and  that  your  Grace  after  a  good  old  age  may  be  number'd 
in   the   choir  of   Apostles   &   Confessors   in   the   Church   triumphant  is   the 

unfeigned  Prayer  of, 

My  Lord, 
Your  Grace's  most  dutiful  Sons  & 

most  Obedient  Humble  Servants, 

Robert  Jenney,  Rector  of  Cts  Ch.,  Philadelphia. 

William  Smith,  Presid'  of  Convent", 

George  Craig, 

Philip  Reading, 

William  Sturgeon, 

Hugh  Neill, 

Thos  Barton, 

WM  Macclenachan, 

Chas  Inglis, 

Jacob  Duche, 

Sam1  Cooke,      1  Missionaries  in  1 

Robt  McKean,  j      New  Jersey,     j 

WM  Thompson. 


Letter  from  D\  SMITH  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 


Philadelphia,  July  Ist,  1760. 
My  Lord, 

Before  my  return  from  England  the  Clergy  of  this  Province  had  agreed 
that  it  might  be  of  service  to  Religion  and  promote  Harmony  &  better  ac- 
quaintance with  one  another  to  hold  a  free  and  voluntary  Convention  at  Phila- 
delphia. They  accordingly  met  here  May  the  Ist,  being  the  time  of  our  public 
commencement  and  did  me  the  honor  of  chusing  me  their  President,  as  Doctor 
Jenney  was  unable  to  discharge  that  office ;  and  herewith  I  transmit  a  copy  of 


1760.]  32° 

their  Minutes,  together  with  a  humble  tender  of  our  Duty  in  a  joint  Address, 
which  is  enclosed  to  your  Grace. 

On  perusal  of  the  minutes  your  Grace  will  be  pleased  to  observe  that  a 
like  friendly  meeting  is  purposed  next  May  ;  before  which  I  hope  to  have  the 
Honor  of  hearing  from  your  Grace,  in  answer  to  our  said  humble  Address 
that  such  Meetings,  when  held  only  for  the  purposes  of  Religion,  &  conducted 
with  mutual  temper  and  love,  without  any  vain  parade,  or  assuming  powers  & 
authorities  which  we  have  not,  will  meet  with  your  Grace's  countenance  &  ap- 
probation, as  they  have  also  been  countenanced  by  our  present  worthy  Gov- 
ernor and  the  Government  here. 

\_Vide :  His  Honour's  Answer  to  our  Address  in  the  Minutes.] 

Our  last  Meeting  was  productive  of  the  best  consequences,  in  attaching  us 
closely  to  each  other,  at  the  present  crisis;  and  I  hope  on  the  face  of  our  pro- 
ceedings which  lie  full  and  genuine  before  your  Grace,  there  will  appear  all  the 
marks  of  temper  and  decorum  of  conduct.  To  preserve  this  at  every  future 
Meeting  shall  be  my  earnest  endeavor,  so  far  as  any  influence  of  mine  ex- 
tends. 

Along  with  the  minutes  of  the  Meeting  or  Convention  your  Grace  will 
receive  the  Minutes  of  such  transactions  as  have  come  before  five  of  us  who 
were  men  appointed  to  be  a  standing  committee  to  assist  and  advise  Dr.  Jen- 
ney  in  his  present  troubles  and  to  do  such  other  things  as  might  be  for  the 
general  good  of  the  Church.  There  is  also  an  ample  state  of  the  Missions, 
&c.,  transmitted  by  us  ;  all  which  Papers  are  sent  under  cover  to  Dr.  Bearcroft 
to  be  by  him  presented  to  your  Grace. 

I  have  already  troubled  your  Grace  sufficiently  on  the  affair  of  Mr.  Macclen- 
aghan  &  as  I  hope  this  shall  be  the  last  time  I  shall  have  occasion  to  mention 
his  Name,  I  shall  briefly  lay  everything  concerning  him  in  one  view,  from  the 
time  of  his  coming  into  our  Church  to  the  17th  June  last,  when  he  left  it  to  set 
up  a  private  Meeting  or  Conventicle  of  his  own  ;  that  so  your  Grace  may  be 
taken  in  nothing  unprovided  or  uninformed.  These  particulars  I  am  enabled 
to  give  by  Letters  from  Mr.  Caner  &  Mr.  Apthorp  ;  the  former  of  whom  has 
promised  to  write  to  your  Grace  in  confirmation  of  what  he  has  wrote  to  me. 

Mr.  Macclenaghan,  he  tells  us,  had  various  Removes  among  the  Presbyte- 
rians, owing  to  his  own  imprudent  and  restless  Temper,  till  about  four  years 
ago  he  offered  himself  to  the  Church,  recommended  by  Mr.  Shirley  to  the  Ken- 
nebecque  Mission,  on  account  of  his  robust  constitution  ;  to  which  he  was  ap- 


321  [1760. 

pointed  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1755  from  which  time  his  salary  com- 
menced. While  in  London  he  made  an  acquaintance  with  Dr.  Ward,  &  got  a 
quantity  of  his  Quack  Medicines,  with  which  he  embarked,  purposing  to  settle 
wherever  he  could  in  the  double  capacity  of  Quack  Doctor  and  Quack  Preach- 
er. In  his  way  he  stop'd  at  Halifax  and  endeavoured  to  settle  himself  as  a 
Physician  there,  as  I  am  informed.  But  matters  not  answering  he  left  that  & 
got  to  Boston  the  September  following,  near  7  months  after  his  appointment 
to  his  Mission.  When  he  came  to  Boston,  instead  of  proceeding  to  Kenne- 
beque,  Mr.  Caner  writes  that  he  took  a  House  on  Lease  for  three  years  &  be- 
gan to  practise  as  a  Physician,  pretending  to  perform  extraordinary  Cures,  by 
means  of  certain  Nostra.  At  the  same  time  Dr.  Cutler  being  indisposed,  he 
made  a  party  to  force  himself  in  the  Drs'  congregation.  Mr.  Caner  seeing  this 
remonstrated  to  Mr.  Macclenaghan  that  he  would  write  to  the  Society  if  he  did 
not  proceed  to  his  Mission  (for  which  he  was  receiving  his  Salary),  and  for- 
bear disturbing  other  Congregations.  At  length,  viz1:  the  May  following,  18 
months  after  his  appointment,  he  went  to  Kennebeque  for  the  first  time.  As 
soon  as  he  was  gone,  Mr.  Caner  learned  that  he  was  deeply  in  Debt,  which 
soon  brought  him  back  to  Boston  with  a  view  to  take  the  Benefit  of  the  Act  of 
Insolvency.  Mr.  Caner  thinking  that  this  would  bring  a  reflexion  on  the 
Church,  writes  me  that  he  once  more  sought  Mr.  Macclenaghan  out  (who  ap- 
peared now  only  on  Sundays)  and  assured  him  that  if  he  proceeded  in  that  man- 
ner, he  would  be  obliged  to  write  to  the  Society  &  procure  his  dismission.  He 
asked  what  he  could  do,  seeing  his  creditors  prevented  his  going  abroad  to 
discharge  the  duties  of  his  mission  and  his  Family  were  in  a  suffering  condi- 
tion. Mr.  Caner  advised  him  to  endeavour  to  get  a  Living  in  the  back  parts 
of  Maryland  or  Virginia  where  by  good  Economy  he  might  maintain  his  Fam- 
ily &  save  something  to  pay  his  Debts  justly.  He  took  the  hint,  went  to  Vir- 
ginia, made  an  Agreement  for  a  Cure  as  he  says  of  ^150  ster :  pr  annm  ob- 
tained half  a  year's  Salary  in  advance  and  was  in  the  way  to  bring  his  Family, 
when  unluckily  he  hit  upon  this  Town,  forgot  all  his  engagements  to  the  Peo- 
ple of  Virginia,  as  he  had  before  done  to  the  Society  &  looking  on  Philadel- 
phia as  a  betterplace  to  exercise  his  double  profession,  determined  to  settle 
here.  Mr.  Caner  by  Letter  once  more  remonstrated  to  him  his  want  of  Talents 
for  such  a  place  as  Philadelphia  and  his  unfaithfulness  to  his  former  engage- 
ment all  to  no  purpose. 

All  this  happened  during  my  absence  in  England.     As  for  the  rest  your 


1760.]  322 

Grace  has  been  already  informed  of  it.  During  the  Winter  his  chief  aim  was 
in  all  his  preaching  to  run  down  the  Clergy  and  persuade  the  People  that  he 
himself  was  the  only  sound  Divine.  He  scarce  ever  staid  to  hear  any  of  the 
other  Preachers  in  our  Church  but  when  it  was  not  his  own  turn  to  officiate, 
went  to  another  Society  of  Swedes  in  Town,  preached  in  their  meeting  &  car- 
ried his  Followers  with  him,  whom  he  had  also  brought  to  hear  nobody  but 
himself.  When  the  Presbyterian  Synod  met  he  associated  much  with  the  New 
Light  part  of  them  as  they  are  called  &  procured  an  Address  from  them  to 
your  Grace  in  his  favour,  a  Copy  of  which  with  our  Letter  on  the  subject  is  in 
our  Minutes.  Whether  they  have  sent  the  original  I  know  not,  but  happen- 
ing to  have  a  larger  interest  with  the  members  of  that  Synod  than  Mr.  Mac- 
clenaghan  having  been  long  connected  with  the  principal  men  among  them 
(one  of  whom,  Dr.  Allison  is  Vice  Provost  of  our  College),  I  obtained  a  Dec- 
laration from  their  Body  disowning  their  public  knowledge  of  the  matter,  so 
that  it  passed  over  as  a  private  affair.  How  many  signed  it  perhaps  your 
Grace  will  better  know ;  but  I  think  they  must  have  been  a  small  number  in 
comparison  of  the  whole,  there  being  about  50  members  at  their  Synod.  By 
an  Address  sent  at  the  desire  of  a  large  part  of  them  to  Dr.  Chandler,  he  is 
requested  to  assure  your  Grace  that  they  are  in  good  harmony  with  the  regular 
Ministers  of  our  Church,  that  they  disapprove  all  meddling  in  our  affairs  on 
the  part  of  their  Brethren  and  that  Gilbert  Tennent  and  others  who  address 
infavor  of  Macclenaghan  have  been  long  disturbers  of  their  own  Societies. 
The  truth  of  this  Dr.  Chandler  well  knows. 

Soon  after  this  Mr.  Macclenaghan  preached  two  such  extraordinary  Ser- 
mons charging  the  whole  body  of  our  Church  &  Clergy  with  Heterodoxy,  ex- 
cepting a  few  worthy  Divines  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic  (who,  we  were 
made  to  understand,  were  persecuted  for  their  Faith),  that  he  lost  all  the  Ves- 
try that  had  before  applied  to  have  him  licensed  ;  and  they  joined  Dr.  Jenney 
in  resolving  to  allow  Mr.  Macclenaghan  no  more  use  of  the  Pulpit  to  be  em- 
ployed for  such  purposes,  as  railing  against  our  Clergy  &  Establishment,  and 
so  enraged  were  they,  that  tho'  the  matter  had  been  put  on  the  issue  of  the 
Bishop's  Letter  they  would  not  wait  that  issue ;  being  determined  that  even  if 
he  was  licensed  they  would  not  sit  under  such  Ministry.  The  Bishop's  Letter 
which  was  a  very  full  one  came  a  few  days  afterwards  &  was  intimated  to  him, 
desiring  his  removal  to  perform  his  engagements  in  Virginia  ;  but  he  refused : 
and  the  Quakers  who  love  to  divide  in  order  to  rule  our  Church  &  have  been 


323  [1760. 

at  the  bottom  of  all  the  troubles  in  it  &  particularly  the  opposition  to  me,  im- 
mediately opened  their  State  House  or  Public  Room  where  the  Assembly 
meets  in  order  to  give  it  Mr.  Macclenaghan  ;  who  in  return  does  their  Busi- 
ness for  them  in  trumpeting  forth  the  errors  of  our  Church,  the  Corruption  of 
our  Priests,  &c. 

The  number  that  followed  Mr.  Macclenaghan  from  our  Church  to  his  Con- 
venticle are  but  inconsiderable :  &  as  they  were  the  tools  of  the  Quaker  Party 
to  distract  and  divide  we  think  such  a  purgation  a  happy  incident.  The  Church 
is  as  crouded  as  ever  on  Sundays  &  great  numbers  are  not  able  to  get  Pews. 
And  as  for  my  particular  opponents  they  are  now  fairly  gone.  They  are  about 
Building  a  Place  of  Worship  for  Mr.  Macclenaghan,  and  still  will  be  hardly 
enough  to  sollicit  a  License  for  him,  by  every  misrepresentation  of  all  the  reg- 
ular Clergy  both  here  &  in  Boston.  But  I  hope  your  Grace  will  think  it  prop- 
er that  such  proceedings  that  tend  to  destroy  all  order  shall  never  have  any 
countenance.  The  Quakers  and  their  open  adherents  are  the  chief  people  who 
contribute  to  encourage  this  schism.  One  of  the  oldest  Quakers  in  the  Prov- 
ince has  procured  the  Ground  on  which  the  House  is  to  be  built  so  that  by  the 
turn  this  affair  has  taken,  your  Grace  has  a  fresh  proof,  were  any  necessary, 
that  the  state  I  gave  of  these  matters  in  all  my  former  representations  was 
just.  God  who  knows  the  heart,  sees  that  I  have  no  self  view  in  these  mat- 
ters. Some  of  my  own  Brethren,  by  the  arts  and  Jealousy  of  party,  had  here- 
tofore been  misled  &  drawn  in  to  insinuate  such  things.  But  they  have  been 
convinced  by  experience  &  suffered  for  their  mistake  ;  and  if  they  had  now  20 
hands  each  would  subscribe  to  the  truth  of  what  I  have  said.  Indeed  I  had 
much  more  opportunity  of  seeing  further  into  these  matters  than  they.  The 
opposition  that  was  early  made  to  me  &  to  our  College,  led  me  to  trace  the 
sources  from  whence  it  sprung ;  &  I  soon  saw  that  the  same  hands  were  at 
work  to  weaken  &  divide  our  church  by  some  of  her  own  unworthy  members 
who  drew  many  weak  people  in  with  them.     But  it  is  time  to  quit  this  subject. 

The  Bearer  of  this,  Mr.  Samuel  Keene,  is  of  a  good  Family  in  Maryland, 
where  he  is  to  be  provided  for  in  the  Church.  He  is  a  Youth  of  as  great  de- 
corum of  character  as  I  have  ever  met  with  ;  prudent,  sensible  and  well  accom- 
plish'd  in  all  useful  Literature,  according  to  his  years.  He  has  had  a  regular 
&  full  Education  in  our  College,  of  which  he  is  a  Bachelor  of  Arts  ;  and  he  will 
give  your  Grace  the  utmost  satisfaction  in  every  enquiry  that  your  Grace  may 
be  pleased  to  make  in  respect  to  the  State  of  Religion  and  Learning  here. 


1760.]  324 

The  Hon'ble  James  Hamilton  the  worthy  Governor  of  this  Province,  has 
given  me  his  leave  to  request  that  he  may  be  proposed  &  accepted  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Society  and  I  hope  he  may  be  honour'd  with  your  Grace's  approba- 
tion. He  will  give  proper  directions  to  his  Correspondent  in  regard  to  the 
Present  he  intends,  and  his  annual  Subscription  on  which  head  I  have  wrote  to 
Dr.  Nichols. 

Should  your  Grace  find  leisure  to  honour  me  with  any  commands,   Mr. 
Penn  will  take  care  of  the  Conveyance,  unless  there  should  be  some  particular 
person  bound  thither.     I  have  not  yet  had  the   Honour  of  anything  immedi- 
ately from  your  Grace  since  I  left  England. 
I  am,  may  it  please  your  Grace, 

Your  Grace's  most  dutiful  Son  &  Servant, 

WILLIAM  SMITH. 


Three  Several  CHURCHES    in    PENNSYLVANIA    in 
favor  of  M\    UNANDER. 


These  are  to  certify  all  to  whom  these  presents  may  come  That  the  bear- 
er hereof,  The  Reverend  Mr.  Erick  Unander  the  Swedish  Missionary,  suc- 
cessor to  the  Revd  Mr.  Acrellius  in  the  Swedish  church  of  Wilmington  in  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania  has  been  during  the  time  of  our  want  of  a  Mis- 
sionary exceedingly  serviceable  to  us  the  Churches  of  Marcus  Hook,  Con- 
cord, Marlborough  and  New  London  in  visiting  our  sick,  baptizing  our  chil- 
dren, preaching  and  administering  ye  Sacrament  as  often  as  required  and  he 
could  spare  time  from  his  own  particular  charge,  and  for  all  these  services 
we  the  churchwardens  of  the  above  Congregations  can  do  no  less  than  in 
their  names  to  return  him  our  hearty  thanks  wishing  him  and  family  a  good 
voyage,  and  in  testimony  of  our  sincerity  we  subscribe  our  names  this  22  day 
of  July,,  A.D.  1760. 

Rich"  Anderson,  1  Chh.  Wardens  of  S'. 

Henry  Peirce,      \      John's,  Concord. 

Jn°.  Marshall,  Warden  of  Sl.  Martin's,  Chichester. 


325  [i76o. 

The  bearer  hereof  The  Revd  Mr.  Unander  having  so  short  notice  of  his 
departure  yl  its  not  possible  for  him  to  wait  on  all  ye  above  named  Congre- 
gations so  as  to  get  a  Certificate  from  under  the  hands  of  their  church  ward- 
ens. I  therefore  certify  the  above  to  be  true  as  far  as  I  have  had  opportun- 
ity of  conversing  with  some  of  their  Members. 

GEO.  CRAIG,  Missionary  at  Chester. 


M\  SMITH  to  the  Secretary. 

Philada,  26th  August,  1760. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  wrote  to  you  a  long  letter  by  Mr.  Keene  about  7  weeks  ago  with  a  full 
account  of  everything  concerning  Macclenaghan  and  a  copy  of  the  Minutes 
of  the  late  Meeting  of  our  Clergy  together  with  an  address  to  His  Grace  of 
Canterbury;  all  which  I  hope  have  been  duly  received.  Macclenaghan  gains 
no  ground  in  the  Church,  and  we  have  lost  but  two  or  three  Men  of  any  note 
(one  of  which  is  John  Ross  who  has  not  acted  like  a  member  of  your  Body  & 
son  of  a  regular  Clergyman  as  he  is,  being  the  chief  founder  of  all  this  trouble 
in  order  to  be  at  the  head  of  a  party7).  The  Quakers  and  their  adherents  are 
the  chief  support  of  this  Schism  agreeable  to  their  maxim  Divide  et  impera  ; 
but  we  think  it  will  not  hold  long,  especially  as  that  shining  youth  Mr.  Duche 
is  so  much  more  popular  than  Macclenaghan,  who  only  draws  the  lower  sort 
and  of  these  more  from  the  Presbyterians  &  Baptists  than  from  us. 

Enclosed  I  send  you  a  petition  from  one  of  our  back  Counties,  which  I  hope 
will  merit  the  Society's  attention.  The  Subscribers  of  it  are  personally  known 
to  me.  I  was  present  and  preached  to  them  by  their  own  invitation,  the  day 
of  its  date  when  they  made  the  subscription  ;  and  I  knew  them  both  able  and 
willing  to  make  good  their  engagements.  The  first  Gentleman  who  signs,  Mr. 
Bird,  is  worth  1,000  guineas  per  annum  in  Iron  works.  The  place  is  60  Miles 
from  Philadelphia.  It  is  the  Chief  Town  of  Berks  County  settl'd  chiefly  with 
Germans  lying  on  the  frontier  &  no  English  Minister  has  ever  yet  resided  in 
it.     The  Romish  Priests  are  busy  among  the  people  on  the  one  hand  and  the 


1761.]  326 

Sectaries  dependent  on  the  Quaker  on  the  other.  You  will  observe  that  in 
the  transactions  of  our  late  Convention  the  whole  Body  of  the  Clergy  of  this 
province  recommend  Reading  as  a  place  fit  to  open  a  Mission  in.  There  is 
an  Old  Swedish  Settlement  about  15  Miles  lower  towards  Philadelphia,  that 
petitions  along  with  the  Town  of  Reading,  and  hath  a  Church  ready  built,  and 
I  do  give  it  as  my  honest  and  most  candid  Judgment  that  I  know  of  no  place, 
where  a  Mission  is  more  wanted.  I  enclose  you  Mr.  Barton's  account  of  the 
place,  who  has  preached  there  since  I  was  up,  and  beg  you  will  lay  the  whole 
together  with  the  enclosed  Letter  before  the  Archbishop,  previous  to  your 
doing  anything  in  the  Society. 

I  enclose  you  my  sermon  before  the  Clergy  at  their  Convention  which  be- 
ing on  a  subject  which  is  a  favorite  one  with  you,  and  placing  some  points 
perhaps  in  a  light  somewhat  new,  I  hope  you  will  bestow  a  candid  Reading 
upon  it.  I  shall  beg  to  hear  from  you  as  soon  as  may  be  convenient,  in  regard 
to  the  people  of  Reading  who  have  put  their  affair  into  my  hands  and  will  in 
due  time  expect  their  answer  from  me.  The  Hon'ble  Mr.  Penn's  agents  here 
have  promised  a  fine  Lot,  whereon  to  erect  their  Church  ;  and  from  Mr.  Penn 
himself  you  will  receive  this. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

WILLM  SMITH. 


M\  NEILL  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Oxford,  June  8th,  1761. 
Revd  Sir, 

The  recovery  of  my  health  since  my  appointment  to  this  Mission  requires 
my  utmost  thankfulness  to  Providence  for  such  an  inestimable  blessing  as  well 
as  gratitude  to  the  Venerable  Society  for  my  removal.  It  gives  me  the  utmost 
pleasure  to  see  that  my  poor  endeavours  are  not  entirely  thrown  away  among 
these  people,  but  that  by  the  blessing  of  Heaven  they  are  a  growing  more  nu- 
merous and  more  settled  in  their  principles  everyday.  The  greatest  difficulty 
I  have  (and  I  believe  what  most  Missionaries  have  to  Combat  with   in   this 


327  [1761. 

province),  is  to  convince  them  of  the  necessity  of  the  Sacraments;  numbers 
attending  divine  Service  that  were  never  baptized,  and  what  is  still  worse  will 
not  spend  time  to  acquaint  themselves  with  the  controversy,  looking  upon  it 
with  kind  of  indifferency  whether  they  are  baptized  or  no.  This  is  not  the  case 
with  all,  but  only  those  who  have  been  used  to  go  to  any  place  of  worship  just 
as  it  happened.  I  have  reclaimed  some  of  these,  and  hope  to  prevail  on 
more,  but  it  is  by  this  means  that  my  congregations  are  numerous  altho'  but 
few  Churchmen  in  full  communion. 

I  officiated  the  chief  part  of  last  Summer  Sunday  Evenings  in  German 
Town,  where  the  rising  generation  of  the  Dutch,  that  understand  English  are 
well  affected  to  the  Church  of  England.  Dr.  Smith  and  myself  had  agreed  for 
a  Lot,  about  an  acre,  for  ^75,  to  build  an  English  Church  and  make  a  Grave 
Yard,  for  we  found  the  Dutch  Clergy  here  were  not  fond  of  letting  me  offi- 
ciate in  their  Churches,  I  suppose  imagining  their  people  would  fall  away  from 
them  and  join  with  the  English ;  but  we  were  obliged  to  drop  the  scheme  for 
the  present  till  a  more  favorable  time  on  account  of  the  prejudices  of  the  peo- 
ple against  Dr.  Smith  for  his  disputes  in  politics  formerly  who  would  not  sub- 
scribe, because  they  said  he  had  a  hand  in  it. 

The  Clergy  in  general,  and  each  of  us  in  particular,  are  extremely  obliged 
to  His  Grace  the  Archbishop,  our  Most  Reverend  Metropolitan,  for  his  great 
pains,  condescension  &  kindness  in  vindicating  us  from  the  calumnies  of  Mr. 
McClenaghan.  We  have  at  our  last  Convention  drawn  up  an  Address  to 
His  Grace  thanking  him  for  his  Goodness  and  at  the  same  time  acquitting 
ourselves  of  such  vile  aspersions,  which  we  hope  will  come  safe  to  hand.  The 
Presbyterian  Synod  have  acquitted  themselves  of  charging  the  Church  (as  Mr. 
Macclenaghan  says  the  Dissenters  do),  of  propagating  the  Errors  of  Armin- 
ius,  and  artfully  cultivating  Deism,  at  their  last  Synod  in  Philadelphia  and  this 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Members  of  the  Church  of  England  here. 

I  am,  your  most  humble,  &c., 

HUGH  NEILL. 


1761.]  328 

M\  BARTON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Lancaster  in  Pennsylvania,  July  6th,  1761. 
Reverend  Sir, 

Agreeable  to  the  1 2th  Article  of  the  Society's  Instructions  to  their  Mission- 
aries upon  their  arrival  in  the  Country  "  whither  they  shall  be  sent,  that  they 
"  keep  up  a  Brotherly  correspondence  by  meeting  together  at  certain  times  as 
"  shall  be  most  convenient,  for  mutual  advice  and  assistance,"  the  Episcopal 
Clergy  of  this  province  and  the  Counties  annexed  voluntarily  convener  them- 
selves at  Philadelphia  on  the  30th  of  April,  1760.  At  that  time  among  other 
matters,  it  was  agreed  upon,  that  some  enquiry  should  be  made  into  the  State 
of  the  Several  Missions  in  these  parts,  and  a  joint  account  thereof  transmitted 
to  the  Venerable  Society  by  our  president  and  good  Brother  Dr.  Smith.  In 
that  account  which  I  verily  believe  to  be  an  honest  and  faithful  one  you'll  al- 
low me,  Revd  Sir,  the  pleasure  to  remark,  that  the  Churches  committed  to  my 
care  made  no  inconsiderable  appearance.  And  tho'  I  have  never  been  able 
to  send  you  a  Notitia  parochialis  exactly  correspondent  with  the  scheme  pre- 
sented us  by  the  Society,  yet  I  can  truly  say  I  have  never  to  my  knowl- 
edge omitted  any  particular  which  the  circumstances  of  this  Country  would 
permit  me  to  get  acquainted  with.  I  say  the  circumstances  of  this  Country, 
Because  in  Pennsylvania  we  had  no  stated  parishes,  and  consequently  no  reg- 
ular parish  Lists.  The  precincts  of  some  Missions  extend  into  two  or  more 
Counties,  often  making  a  Circuit  (especially  upon  the  frontiers)  of  160  miles. 
It  is  extremely  difficult — I  might  say  almost  impossible — at  least  I  have 
always  found  it  impossible,  to  tell  what  number  of  Inhabitants  and  of  Dis- 
senters of  all  sorts  such  a  territory  or  circuit  of  Ground  may  contain. 

In  the  County  of  Lancaster,  which  is  but  part  of  my  Mission,  I  am  told 
there  are  32  Townships.  These  Townships  one  with  another  produce  about 
150  taxables  apiece,  which  allowing  5  to  a  family  will  make  the  number  of 
Souls  in  this  County  amount  to  24,000.  Upon  the  most  favorable  computation 
I  cannot  allow  above  one  in  30  of  these  to  be  actual  Members  of  the  Church 
of  England.     The  rest  are  Dissenters  of  I  believe  every  sort  in  Christendom, 


329  [i76i. 

divided  into  sects  and  parties  differing  as  widely  from  one  another  as  they  differ 
from  us.  The  Bulk  of  them  however  are  Calvinists  and  Mennonists.  I  have 
never  learnt  that  there  were  Heathens  amonof  them.  There  are  indeed  a  few 
Indians  who  live  upon  the  Banks  of  the  Susquehanna,  but  they  cannot  properly 
come  under  this  denomination  for  they  both  feel  and  own  the  being  of  a  God 
and  an  all  ruling  Providence  and  from  what  they  know  by  their  own  imperfect 
and  untutored  reason,  I  hope  they  will  in  time  be  brought  to  see  the  necessity 
of  a  revelation,  and  to  embrace  the  Doctrines  of  Christianity.  What  number 
of  Infidels  may  lurk  under  the  Mask  of  Religion  is  difficult  to  know.  But  I 
am  not  acquainted  with  any  in  this  Mission  who  openly  avow  themselves  to  be 
such,  or  at  least,  whose  guarded  outside  does  not  give  the  same  pretence  to  a 
different  character. 

There  are  many  pious,  well  disposed  people  in  it.  There  are  also  many 
dissolute  Gainsayers  in  it  who  do  not  wish  well  to  our  cause,  Men  whose  Char- 
ity and  benevolence  are  so  confined  that  they  cannot  think  favorably  of  any 
Religion  but  that  which  chance  or  education  threw  in  their  way.  A  restless 
spirit  and  a  sour  temper  often  hurry  these  kind  of  persons  to  say  and  do 
things  which  they  think  may  injure  or  at  least  retard  the  advancement  of  the 
Church  of  England. 

In  such  a  situation  it  requires  watchfulness  and  prudence  to  make  our  La- 
bours successtul.  A  Missionary  must  expect  to  have  Ignorance  and  prejudice 
to  Combat,  difficulties  and  toils  to  undergo  and  but  little  pleasure  except  what 
results  from  a  consciousness  of  having  faithfully  discharged  his  duty.  In  this 
reflection  I  am  happy.  The  remarkable  zeal  which  appears  in  my  Congrega- 
tions affords  me  the  highest  Joy.  In  Lancaster  the  number  of  people  belong- 
ing to  the  Church  is  very  small.  Besides  this  they  are  people  of  contracted 
fortunes,  yet  willing  to  give  posterity  some  evidence  of  their  attention  to  the 
great  duty  of  promoting  the  credit  of  the  Church.  They  have  lately  raised  by 
way  of  Lottery,  a  considerable  sum  of  money  with  which  they  are  going  to  build 
a  Steeple,  erect  Galleries,  purchase  a  Bell  and  finish  the  Stone  wall  round  the 
Grave  Yard.  In  Pequea  and  Carnarvon  the  Congregations  are  much  larger. 
The  poor  people  in  these  places  have  erected  two  decent  Stone  Churches  at 
their  own  expence,  withoutthe  least  assistance  from  the  publick.  In  doing 
which  even  poverty  herself  has  been  liberal.  Many  persons  who  content 
themselves  to  dwell  in  the  meanest  Huts  contributed  handsomely  towards 
this  good  work. 

43  I  remain,  Revd  Sir,  &c. 


1761.]  33° 

Mr.   CRAIG  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Chester,  July  6th,  1761. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  am  informed  this  Congregation  never  wrote  to  the  Society  for  a  Mis- 
sionary, but  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Backhouse  and  what  they  proposed  then  I 
can  never  find  out.  But  be  that  what  it  will,  it  seems  the  goodness  of  the  So- 
ciety appointed  me  on  the  removal  of  Mr.  Thompson  without  their  having 
made  any  previous  application  for  another  Missionary  which  I  think  is  suffi- 
cient warning  to  that  Venerable  Body  to  take  care  how  they  send  a  Mission- 
ary to  any  of  the  older  Missions  upon  either  the  death  or  removal  of  any  of 
their  Missionaries  without  application  being  first  made  for  another,  and  a 
knowledge  how  he  is  to  be  accommodated.  The  disadvantage  of  not  having 
here  a  parsonage  house  or  Glebe  I  sufficiently  know,  but  should  much  more  so 
if  I  had  been  a  married  man  with  a  family.  I  hope  the  Society  will  not  think 
that  what  I  write  is  with  any  view  that  this  Mission  should  drop  or  that  they 
should  withdraw  their  favours  from  it.  I  can  assure  this  is  the  least  of  my 
thoughts,  only  as  I  am  in  duty  bound  and  as  they  require  of  their  Mission- 
aries to  let  them  know  the  true  state  of  their  Missions,  my  only  design  is  to 
put  it  upon  a  respectable  footing  if  possible,  and  for  that  end  and  the  good  of 
those  who  shall  succeed  me  I  would  beg  of  the  Society  to  address  the  people 
in  the  mildest  terms  &  thereby  try,  if  they  or  a  select  number  of  them  will  un- 
dertake to  comply  with  such  reasonable  terms  as  shall  be  proposed  and  there- 
to let  them  return  their  answer.  For  these  things  being  left  to  the  Mission- 
ary and  members  they  are  seldom  fulfilled. 

I  remain,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

GEO.  CRAIG. 


33*  [1760. 

M\  SMITH  to  the  Secretary, 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  20  July,  1760. 
Revd  and  Dear  Sir, 

I  had  intended  you  the  trouble  of  a  long  Letter  by  this  Conveyance  ;  but  a 
severe  and  indeed  dangerous  disorder  in  my  blood,  Lungs,  &c.,  catch'd  by  the 
extreme  heat  and  fatigue  of  a  Journey  to  supply  some  vacant  congregations  the 
first  Sunday  of  this  month,  hath  saved  you  that  trouble.  I  am  to-day,  for  the 
first  time,  able  to  sit  it,  and  hope  to  get  those  few  lines  sent  down  after  the 
Ship,  as  also  a  few  more  to  the  good  Archbishop  ;  but  if  I  should  miss  that  I 
beg  you  would  present  my  duty  and  excuse  to  his  Grace.  I  shall  send  a  large 
packet  to  his  Grace  by  Captain  Hammit,  a  Ship  of  Force,  that  sails  in  about  a 
fortnight  and  I  am  the  more  desirous  that  this  should  be  made  known,  as  my 
last  Letters  to  his  Grace,  I  find  have  been  carried  with  the  Ship  into  France, 
and  his  Grace  may  think  it  strange  that  I  have  never  acknowledged  the  re- 
ceipt of  his  most  excellent  Letters  and  papers  of  Novr  last. 

I  have  ordered  a  Brother  of  mine  to  whom  I  have  remitted  a  Bill  of  Mr. 
Barton's  on  Mr.  Pearson  for  ^25  to  pay  you  three  Guineas  which  is  my  sub- 
scription as  a  Member  of  the  Society  for  a  year  and  a  half  preceding  Lady- 
day  last,  or  if  it  must  be  paid  to  the  Treasurer,  you  will  give  my  Brother  di- 
rections in  that  case,  that  a  proper  Entry  may  be  made.  Govr  Hamilton  has 
not  heard  that  any  notification  of  his  Election  has  been  made  to  Mr.  David 
Barclay.  When  he  does  he  will  order  what  is  genteel  and  proper  to  the  oc- 
casion. 

Poor  Mr.  Barton,  your  worthy  Missionary  at  Lancaster,  is  in  a  deal  of 
trouble  on  account  of  Mr.  Pearson's  protesting  his  Bill  of  ^50  due  at  Christ- 
mas 1760,  and  I  cannot  but  think  he  has  been  unkindly  used.  The  case  is  ex- 
actly this : 

Mr.  Barton  being  in  Philadelphia  about  Ist  of  December  and  being  obliged 
to  be  home  to  his  congregation  before  Christmas  drew  for  his  whole  Salary 
Decr  5th,  but  dated  his  Bill  the  25th,  the  day  it  was  due,  knowing  that  in  that 
Season  he  could  have  no  other  opportunity.     This  the  Missionarys  who  come 


1761.]  332 

to  Town  but  once  or  twice  a  year  often  do,  namely,  draw  a  few  weeks  before 
or  after  their  Bills  are  due,  but  date  them  at  the  time  of  their  being  due.  It 
happened  now  that  Barton's  Bill  being  thus  transacted  and  in  the  Merchants' 
hand  and  the  Ship  hurrying  away  for  fear  of  the  Ice,  and  having  a  short  win- 
ter passage  of  about  twenty  days  the  Bill  arrived  and  was  presented  in  about 
10  or  12  days  after  its  date,  viz:  about  January  8th  as  the  protest  shows.  Mr. 
Pearson  refused  the  Bill,  it  was  noted  for  non-acceptance  and  30  days  after- 
wards being  presented  a  second  time  was  still  refused,  and  finally  protested;  on 
which  a  damage  of  upwards  of  Eleven  Guineas  by  the  Laws  of  this  province 
has  fallen  on  Mr.  Barton  which  is  a  heavy  deduction  out  of  ^50.  I  have  just 
settled  the  matter  for  Mr.  Barton  with  the  Merchant  without  suffering  it  to 
make  noise  and  have  paid  him  the  damages  which  I  hope  the  Society  will  gen- 
erously make  good  to  him  again.     The  original  Bill  he  has  drawn  over  again. 

I  am,  dear  Sir,  &c., 

WM  SMITH. 


M\  STURGEON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Phila,  August  21,  I  761. 
Revd  Dr., 

Things  relating  to  our  Church  have  a  more  promising  appearance:  The 
new  Church  called  St.  Peter's  is  to  be  opened  the  4th  of  Septr  next  and  to  be 
governed  by  the  Vestry  and  Wardens  of  Christ  Church  and  the  Ministers  are 
to  officiate  alternately  as  in  New  York.  My  success  amongst  the  negroes 
has  been  much  obstructed  by  Mr.  Macclenaghan  who  opened  a  lecture  at  his 
house  in  opposition  to  mine  at  Church  ;  and  frequently  in  public  and  private 
told  them  I  did  not  preach  the  truth.  All  I  could  do  was  to  persevere  in  my 
duty  and  hope  for  better  times.  That  Gentleman  has  done  great  injury  to  the 
Church  here  and  is  not  a  friend  to  speaking  the  truth. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

WILLM  STURGEON. 


333  [1762. 

Mr.  NEILL  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Oxford  in  Pennsylvania,  Jany  10th,  1762. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  *  As  our  Church  of  Oxford  was  too  small  for  the  Congregation  that 
generally  attended  we  set  on  foot  a  Lottery  last  Spring  for  enlarging  of  it, 
and  other  uses  about  the  Church.  We  have  drawn  the  Lottery  the  other  day 
and  hope  we  shall  be  able  to  clear  for  the  uses  aforesaid  between  four  and  five 
hundred  pounds.  His  Honor  the  Governor  gave  us  a  gratuity  of  Ten  pounds 
towards  enlarging  the  Church.  Thus  I  hope  by  the  assistance  of  divine  Prov- 
idence notwithstanding  the  numbers  of  Dissenters  among  us  we  shall  continue 
steady  and  united  as  we  are  at  present  and  increase  in  numbers  every  day. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

HUGH  NEILL. 


Dr.  SMITH  &  others  to  the  Secretary. 

Phila,  Jany  1 2th,  1 762. 
Revd  Sir, 

We  have  received  the  Honorable  Society's  Letter  of  attorney  authorizing 
us  or  the  major  part  of  us  to  contract  for  lands  in  this  province  to  the  value 
of  Three  hundred  pounds  Sterling  to  be  vested  in  the  Society  for  the  use  of 
the  parson  of  Christ's  Church  forever.  In  pursuance  whereof  we  have  agreed 
with  our  Honorable  proprietor  Thomas  Penn,  Esqre,  his  agents  here  for  a  Lot 
of  Land  in  this  city  which  we  conceive  will  well  answer  the  uses  intended,  a  plott 
whereof  you  will  herewith  receive.  The  Revd  Mr.  Richard  Peters,  late  Secre- 
tary to  our  proprietor  and  Governor  has  most  generously  offered  the  sum  of 
one  hundred  pounds  Sterling  and  proposes  to  obtain  from  others  the  like  sum 
in  voluntary  contributions  to  inlarge  the  lot  purchased  by  us  in  the  name  of 
the  Society,  Two  fifth  parts  of  which  large  Lott  he  proposes  to  be  settled  and 


1762.]  334 

vested  for  the  use  of  the  parson  of  St.  Peter's  Church  lately  erected  in  this 
city,  of  which  we  heartily  approve  and  gratefully  acknowledge  his  benevolence. 
We  in  behalf  and  in  the  name  of  and  as  Attornies  to  the  Society  have  entered 
into  Articles  of  agreement  with  the  agents  of  our  proprietors  for  the  purchase 
of  this  great  lott  and  obtaining  a  title  in  the  name  of  the  Society  for  the  uses 
aforesaid  but  the  title  deed  in  full  form  we  have  at  present  declined  receiving, 
(tho'  offer'd  to  us),  until  we  have  further  advice  from  and  approbation  of  the 
Society.  To  render  these  donations  useful  when  the  title  is  vested,  some 
persons  thereto  authorized  must  sell  and  lett  this  Grand  Lott  into  smaller  Lotts 
under  certain  yearly  Ground  Rents  forever  and  perhaps  the  tenants  at  times 
may  prove  troublesome  and  refuse  payment,  the  Society  will  be  often  put  to 
trouble  to  renew  their  power  ;  their  attorney  may  dye ;  and  the  dues  to  the 
parson  be  long  withheld,  suits  at  Law  may  happen  for  the  Recovery  of  those 
rents  and  no  attorney  from  the  Society  here  to  prosecute  such  suits,  &c.  In  con- 
sideration therefore  of  the  many  diffkultys  which  may  arise  in  carrying  on  these 
Charities  to  have  their  full  and  intended  effect,  we  pray  the  advice  and  con- 
sent of  the  Honorable  Society  hereupon  and  that  we  may  be  permitted  to  re- 
ceive our  title  in  the  name  of  any  of  the  Corporations  of  this  City  for  the  uses 
aforesaid,  an  exemplified  Copy  of  which  deed  we  shall  carefully  transmit  to 
your  Board  and  this  mode  of  title  we  humbly  conceive  will  obviate  every  ob- 
jection against  our  ready  and  speedy  recovery  of  the  rents  issuing  out  of  the 
several  Lots  to  be  granted.  Whatever  the  Society  shall  determine  hereupon 
and  advise  us  thereof,  we  shall  cheerfully  acquiesce  under. 

And  now,  Reverend  Sir,  as  we  have  so  far  ratified  our  agreement  for  this 
purchase  by  sealing  articles  for  the  same  ;  we  pray  the  Honorable  Society  will 
be  pleased  to  order  a  transfer  to  be  made  to  our  Honorable  proprietor  Thomas 
Penn,  Esqre  for  the  Three  hundred  pounds,  New  South  Sea  annuities  Stock, 
his  agents  here  having  agreed  that  he  will  accept  the  same  in  payment  for 
this  Lot. 


We  are,  with  due  regard,  &c 


Wm.  Smith, 
John  Ross, 
Evan  Morgan, 
Jacob  Duche. 


335  [1762. 

M r.  THOMSON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Carlisle,  10th  March,  1762. 
Revd  Sir, 

My  three  congregations  subscribe  £7$  10  per  annum  Currency 
and  tho'  I  have  officiated  upwards  of  one  year  and  nine  months  I  have  only 
received  ^35.  They  have  two  Glebes  which  belong  to  this  Mission  but  I  have 
no  benefit  from  either  as  they  are  yet  uncultivated.  At  the  request  of  a  few 
scattered  members  of  the  Church  of  England  wholly  at  a  great  distance  from 
either  of  my  Churches  I  preached  several  week-day  sermons  among  them,  at 
which  place  numbers  of  different  denominations  gave  their  attendance  and 
seemed  much  better  affected  to  our  Church  than  formerly. 

I  find  that  frequent  preaching  amongst  the  Dissenters,  and  being  conver- 
sant with  them  as  often  as  possible  is  a  great  means  to  remove  those  false  no- 
tions of  our  Church  which  they  have  imbibed.  This,  daily  experience  brings 
to  my  view. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

\VM  THOMSON. 


M\  SMITH  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

London,  11th  March,  1762. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  *  The  letter  from  Philadelphia  with  our  request  as  attornies  for  the 
Society  will  no  doubt  be  agreed  to ;  but  the  Committee  I  believe  can  do  noth- 
ing on  that  head,  as  Mr.  Penn  must  be  first  treated  with  in  regard  to  the  con- 
veying to  him  the  right  to  the  money  in  the  old  South  Sea  Stock  and  some 


1762.]  336 

other  things  relating  to  the  appropriation  of  the  money  or  rents  at  Philadel- 
phia for  the  care  of  a  Minister  duly  Licensed  by  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London 
or  acting  Bishop  for  that  part  of  America  must  be  inserted  in  the  patent  from 
Mr.  Penn  for  the  Ground. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

WM  SMITH. 


M'\  NEILL  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Oxford  in  Pennsylvania,  June  5^,  1762. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  *  Yours  of  the  24th  of  Feby  came  to  hand  this  day  wherein  you  acquaint 
me  of  your  succeeding  Dr.  Bearcroft  as  Secretary  to  the  Venerable  Society, 
the  death  of  whom  is  much  regretted  here  by  every  Missionary  that  ever  had 
the  honor  of  his  personal  acquaintance.  I  am  sorry  to  find  that  I  labour  un- 
der the  displeasure  of  the  Honorable  Society  (after  being  so  long  in  their  ser- 
vice), for  not  being  exact  enough  in  the  transmitting  the  accounts  of  my  Mis- 
sion. I  can  assure  you,  sir,  if  there  has  been  any  failure  on  my  part  this  way 
it  arose  from  no  wilful  neglect  but  from  a  supposition  that  the  state  of  our  re- 
spective Missions  in  this  province  drawn  up  at  our  annual  Conventions  and 
sent  home  to  the  Honorable  Society  might  be  sufficient  without  troubling  them 
with  a  repetition  of  the  same  things.  However  upon  the  most  strictest  reflec- 
tion I  can't  find  anything  material  that  has  happened  within  my  Mission  but 
what  I  have  sent  home.  It  gives  me  the  greatest  pleasure  to  reflect  that  I  have 
nothing  to  reproach  myself  with  in  conscientiously  discharging  the  duties  of  my 
office  ever  since  I  have  been  in  the  Mission.  The  miserable  situation  of  the 
Church  of  Dover  upon  my  appointment  there  is  well  known  to  this  part  of  the 
world  and  the  numerous  Congregations  I  left  there  to  my  successor  is  as  well 
known.  The  state  of  this  Church  upon  my  appointment  was  still  worse,  be- 
cause their  numbers  were  almost  reduced  to  nothing.  Providence  has  so  far 
blessed  my  weak  endeavours  as  to  enable  me  to  collect  them  together,  and 


337  [1762. 

now  they  are  as  decent  and  orderly  a  Congregation  as  any  in  this  province. 
However  one  inveterate  prejudice  reigns  among  them,  which  I  am  afraid  I  shall 
never  be  able  to  root  out,  and  that  is  their  antipathy  to  Infant  Baptism.  This 
makes  me  have  but  few  Children  to  Baptise,  and  as  for  these  that  are  grown 
up,  they  are  ashamed  to  make  a  public  profession  of  Christianity  by  Baptism, 
altho'  they  are  constant  attendants  at  Church  ;  and  as  I  can't  admit  them  to  the 
Communion  till  they  are  Baptised,  this  gives  me  great  uneasiness.  I  have  not 
christened  above  five  children  since  my  last  letter,  two  adults  that  are  white, 
and  four  adult  Negroes.  My  Communicants  are  about  thirty  in  both  Congre- 
gations. As  to  the  number  of  Inhabitants  within  the  bounds  of  my  Mission,  it  is 
impossible  for  me  to  tell,  as  I  havefound  no  rule  yet  whereby  to  count  them. 
As  to  the  professed  Members  of  the  Church  in  the  Congregation  of  Oxford, 
they  are  about  One  hundred  and  fifty.  There  are  nearly  the  same  number  at- 
tends White  Marsh  Church,  but  not  above  twenty  or  thirty  of  them  are  pro- 
fessed members  of  the  Church  ;  the  rest  of  them  beino-  either  Dissenters  or 
young  Dutch  people  who  understand  the  English  language.  As  to  the  num- 
ber of  Dissenters  they  are  almost  innumerable  ;  Quakers,  Presbyterians,  Old 
and  New,  i.  e.,  New  lights,  Baptists,  both  seventh  day  and  first  day,  Moravians, 
Menonists,  Dumplers,  and  Pretests,  with  many  other  sorts  ;  but  these  have  all 
stated  places  of  worship  besides  the  Dutch  Calvinists  and  Lutherans.  As  to 
Heathens  and  Infidels,  if  I  set  aside  the  practical  ones,  there  is  none  professed 
that  I  know  of.  Thus  I  have  gone  through  my  Notitia  parochialis,  and  shall 
only  add  that  there  is  the  utmost  love,  union  and  harmony,  subsisting  between 
me  and  my  Churches,  and  that  the  majority  of  my  people  endeavor  to  excel 
the  Dissenters  as  far  by  the  piety  of  their  lives  as  by  the  purity  of  their  doc- 
trine. 

<2  I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

HUGH  NEILL. 


1762.]  338 

M\  NEILL  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Oxford  in  Pennsylvania,  June  21st,  1762. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  have  sent  the  enclosed  papers  to  shew  how  kind  the 
Legislature  has  been  to  our  Church  ;  and  the  means  I  have  used  to  perpetuate 
this  new  Glebe  for  the  use  of  my  successors. 

The  old  Glebe  that  we  sold  was  so  much  out  of  order  that  there  was  not  a 
stick  of  fence  upon  it,  nor  any  wood  to  repair  them,  no  Meadow,  the  Ground 
extremely  poor,  and  the  house  so  much  out  of  order,  that  no  person  could  live 
in  it  with  any  comfort.  Such  was  its  situation  when  it  had  the  misfortune  to  be 
burnt  down.  The  .Congregation  concluded  never  to  build  it  again,  as  it  would 
be  money  thrown  away,  but  resolved  to  purchase  a  new  one,  with  a  house 
ready  built,  better  land,  some  meadow,  and  one  more  conveniently  situated  for 
the  two  Churches. 

This  could  not  be  done  without  the  aid  of  the  Legislature  We  according- 
ly applied  and  obtained  an  act  agreeably  to  the  enclosed  Copy.  But  as  His 
Majesty's  approbation  is  necessary  to  confirm  all  acts  of  this  Government,  we 
wait  with  impatience  to  hear  of  its  confirmation. 

Nothing  would  be  a  greater  encouragement  to  Missionaries  than  if  the 
Venerable  Society  would  make  it  a  standing  rule  to  oblige  all  Missionaries  up- 
on their  first  appointment  to  old  settled  Missions  to  reimburse  to  their  prede- 
cessors if  removed,  or  to  his  widow  and  Orphans  if  deceased,  an  equivalent, 
judged  by  indifferent  persons,  for  what  extraordinary  sums  of  money  he  had 
disbursed  in  building  or  repairing  the  Glebe.  This  would  be  a  means  of  per- 
petuating the  Glebes  in  good  order,  and  a  great  encouragement  for  Mission- 
aries to  improve  them,  but  as  things  are  at  present  it  is  natural  to  suppose  that 
most  Missionaries  will  suck  the  Marrow  out  of  their  Glebes  and  leave  the 
bones  to  their  successors.  When  I  went  to  Dover  the  Glebe  there  was  one 
wild  uncultivated  waste,  except  a  few  acres  of  tilled  land  that  rented  for  about 
Five  pounds  a  year.  When  I  left  it,  I  built  and  improved  so  upon  it  that  it 
rented  for  Sixteen  pounds  a  year.     I  laid  out  above  One  hundred   pounds  of 


339  [1762. 

Cash  besides  my  own  labour.  I  had  no  way  to  refund  myself,  and  was  obliged 
to  acquiesce  in  a  present  from  the  Congregation  of  about  Thirty  pounds  and 
make  myself  easy  with  the  loss.  When  I  came  to  this  Mission  1  found  the 
Glebe  in  the  situation  I  have  described  it.  I  have  with  unwearied  diligence  ; 
and  thro'  the  kind  interposition  of  the  Legislature  obtained  a  Glebe  worth 
two  of  the  Old  one.  This  was  obtained  at  a  considerable  expence,  but  as  I 
hope  to  reap  some  of  the  benefits  I  am  the  easier.  However  I  could  still  make 
considerable  improvements  did  I  know  how  to  be  refunded,  but  in  the  mean- 
time I  am  contented. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

HUGH  NEILL. 


M\  BARTON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Lancaster  in  Pennsylvania,  June  2  2d,  1762. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  Since  the  date  of  my  last  letter  I  have  visited  all  the  des- 
titute Congregations  in  the  province,  and  it  affords  me  a  sensible  pleasure  to 
inform  you  that  among  the  enemies  of  our  Church  I  find  the  rage  of  enthusi- 
asm and  bitter  zeal  much  abated,  and  religious  dissension  calmed.  The  Mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  England,  wherever  I  go,  shew  a  laudable  inclination  to 
support  her  credit,  and  I  hope  thro'  the  blessing  of  God  upon  the  pious  en- 
deavours of  the  Venerable  Society  and  the  indefatigable  labours  of  her  Clergy, 
she  will  soon  raise  her  drooping  head.  As  to  the  Mission  more  particularly 
under  my  care,  you'll  be  pleased  to  permit  me  to  add  that  I  have  the  most  fa- 
vorable prospect  of  its  becoming  a  considerable  appendage  to  her  interest. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

THOMAS  BARTON. 


1762.]  34° 

M'\  CRAIG  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Chester,  June  25th,   1762. 
Revd  Sir, 

The  above  is  my  Notitia  for  the  last  year  wherein  you  may  perceive  the 
small  progress  the  Church  of  England  makes  in  this  opulent,  extensive  &  pop- 
ulous province  of  Pensylvania  by  reason  of  the  numerous  Sectaries  which  come 
from  all  parts  of  Christendom  to  settle  here  as  a  place  of  unbounded  liberty 
where  we  have  no  Bishops  nor  any  authorized  by  the  Society  to  inspect  the 
state  of  the  Missions.  These  &  the  like  I  have  often  wrote  to  my  worthy 
Friend  Dr.  Bearcroft  (whose  memory  I  shall  ever  regard),  as  a  Man  who  had 
the  good  of  the  Church  at  heart  and  endeavour'd  what  he  could  to  promote  its 
interest  in  these  foreign  parts.  Such  I  doubt  not  but  the  Church  and  the  Mis- 
sionaries will  find  the  like  friendship  in  you.  May  you  long  enjoy  the  trust  re- 
posed in  you  to  the  mutual  satisfaction  of  yourself  and  all  concerned  in  the 
Honorable  The  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  of  Christ  in  Foreign  Parts. 

I  remain,  Revd  Sir, 

GEO.  CRAIG. 


M\  THOMSON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Carlisle,  July  6th,  1762. 

Revd  Sir, 

*         *  The  preceding  three  months  I  spent  wholly  in  the  duty 

of  my  Mission,  and  I  have  the  satisfaction  of  continuing  to  live  in  the  greatest 
harmony  with  the  Dissenters  many  of  which  give  due  attendance  at  my 
Churches. 

On  preaching  a  week  day  Sermon  in  that  part  of  my  Mission  adjoining 


341  [1762. 

Maryland,  I  found  about  ten  families  firmly  attached  to  the  Church  of  England. 
I  Baptized  to  them  Six  Children.  They  were  very  desirous  that  I  should  visit 
them  again,  which  I  promised  to  do  as  soon  as  I  could  conveniently. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

WM  THOMSON. 


M\  STURGEON  to  the  Secretary, 


(EXTRACT.) 


Revd  Sir, 

*  My  endeavours  to  inculcate  truth  and  virtue  on  the  Minds 
of  Mankind  have  been  in  some  measure  successful  and  at  the  same  time  have 
increased  the  Church  of  England  in  these  parts.  When  I  arrived  here  first, 
Christ's  Church  contained  all  the  people  of  our  Communion,  but  now  there 
are  two  more  created,  St.  Peter's  united  with  the  old  Church,  and  St.  Paul's 
built  for  Mr.  Mc.Clanaghan  mostly  fill'd  with  people  to  whom  I  discharged 
the  duties  of  a  Catechist  and  assistant  Minister  to  the  Reverend  Dr.  Jenney 
for  about  ten  years,  and  upon  his  being  seized  with  a  palsey,  for  three  years 
and  an  half,  without  any  help  at  all. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

WM  STURGEON. 


M\  READING  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Apoquiniminck,  Octr  5th,  1762. 


Revd  Sir, 


On  the  17th  day  of  June,  1760,  I  was  called  upon  to  ad- 
minister baptism  to  a  sick  child,  whose   parents  lived  at  the  distance  of  ten 


1762.]  342 

Miles  from  my  own  house.  As  I  was  upon  my  journey  with  a  view  to  perform 
this  duty,  I  had  the  misfortune  by  the  falling  off  my  horse  to  dislocate  my  right 
arm  and  to  sprain  the  wrist  and  thumb  of  the  same  limb  and  was  otherwise 
very  much  bruised.  The  weather  being  hot  when  this  happened,  it  was  at  first 
feared  that  a  mortification  would  have  ensued,  but  after  being  confined  to  my 
bed  about  twelve  days,  and  to  my  Chamber  about  four  weeks,  I  was,  by  the 
blessing  of  God,  so  far  restored  as  to  be  able  to  return  to  the  duties  of  my 
Mission.  But  the  lameness  of  my  arm  is  yet  so  considerable,  that  I  cannot 
even  at  this  distance  of  time  guide  my  pen  without  pain,  nor  go  thro'  the  com- 
mon duties  of  life  without  a  sensible  inconvenience.  Some  weeks  have  elapsed 
since  I  completed  the  sixteenth  year  of  my  residence  in  the  mission  of  Apo- 
quiniminck  during  which  period,  if  the  testimony  of  my  own  conscience  is  right,  I 
trust  the  general  tenor  of  my  conduct  has  been  conformable  to  the  Character  of 
a  Minister  of  the  Gospel  and  of  a  Missionary  from  the  Venerable  Society  for 
the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts.  I  think  I  may  safely  appeal 
to  the  flock  over  which  I  have  watched  in  behalf  of  my  care  and  diligence  in 
labouring  for  their  spiritual  good.  It  is  with  thankfulness  to  the  author  of 
every  perfect  gift  that  I  perceive  the  Liturgy  of  our  church  greatly  esteemed 
by  its  members  here,  the  ordinances  of  Religion  well  frequented,  and  the  cel- 
ebration of  the  Lord's  Supper  attended  by  a  good  number  of  devout,  serious 
communicants. 

The  foregoing  paragraph  is  an  extract  from  my  letter  of  October,  1  760, 
which  you  inform  me  never  came  to  hand.  Within  that  year  I  enjoyed  the 
comfort  of  administering  baptism  to  six  Quaker  Adults  and  to  Ninety-three 
Infants.  Within  the  preceding  Six  months  I  have  baptized  fifty- two  Infants, 
nine  whereof  were  Neeroes. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

PHILIP  READING. 


'&* 


343  [1762. 

Mr.  BARTON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Lancaster  in  Pennsylvania,  Novr.  8th,  1762. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  have  a  very  sensible  pleasure  in  being  able  to  acquaint 
the  Venerable  Society  that  Religion  and  virtue  gain  ground  in  this  Mission. 
The  people  committed  to  my  care  have  shewn  a  remarkable  spirit  in  finishing, 
enlarging  and  ornamenting  their  Churches,  which  in  a  little  time  will  certainly 
vie  with  any  Country  Churches  in  America. 

We  are  surrounded  by  multitudes  of  Dissenters  of  every  kind  who  are  all 
brought  up  in  such  narrow  principles  that  they  can  be  no  friends  to  the  Na- 
tional Church,  which  notwithstanding  the  opposition  she  daily  meets  with,  kind 
Heaven  has  hitherto  preserved  and  enlarged  ;  and  I  make  no  doubt  but  thro' 
the  Divine  Blessing  she  will  soon  advance  to  the  remotest  parts  of-  this  vast 
Continent. 

Popery  has  gained  considerable  ground  in  Pennsylvania  of  late  years.  The 
professors  of  that  Religion  here  are  chiefly  Germans  who  are  constantly  sup- 
plied with  missionarys  from  the  Society  of  Jesus,  as  they  are  pleased  to  stile 
themselves.  One  of  that  order  resides  in  this  place,  and  had  influence  enough 
last  Summer  to  get  a  very  elegant  Chapel  of  hewn  Stone  erected  in  this  Town. 
Their  behaviour  in  outward  appearance  is  quiet  and  inoffensive  ;  but  they  have 
been  often  suspected  during  this  war  of  communicating  intelligence  to  the  En- 
emies of  our  Religion  and  Country. 

I  know  of  no  Heathens  or  Infidels  among  us  except  a  few  Indians  that  live 
near  the  River  Susquehanna. 

I  remain,  Revd  Sir, 

THOs  BARTON. 


1 7  63-]  344 

Mr.  THOMSON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Carlisle,  December  25,  1762. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  We  have  with  the  greatest  difficulty  raised  a  very  con- 
venient Stone  Church  in  Carlisle  and  covered  it  in  a  genteel  Manner,  but  I 
can't  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  inside  finished  for  some  time,  our  little 
fund  being  wholly  exhausted,  and  indeed  many  of  the  few  people  who  profess 
themselves  Members  of  the  Church  of  England  having  already  given  beyond 
their  abilities.  Give  me  leave  to  assure  the  Venerable  Society  that  this  Church 
will  be  of  great  service  as  it  will  be  a  receptacle  for  the  few  who  call  themselves 
Members  of  our  Church  amidst  a  whole  County  of  Dissenters  of  all  denomi- 
nations, and  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  I  have  the  greatest  hopes 
of  seeing  the  Church  flourish  in  this  place,  tho'  the  appearance  of  it  yet  has  not 
the  most  favourable  aspect,  and  the  great  reason  of  it  is  evident  that  our  Church 
have  but  few  friends  to  countenance  them  at  the  head  of  this  Government, 
though  many  of  them  profess  to  be  Members  of  our  Community. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir, 

WILLM  THOMSON. 


M\  MURRAY  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Reading,  9th  April,  1 763. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  *  *  After  my  arrival  here  I  lost  no  time  in  visiting  the  families  of 
our  Communion  throughout  my  Mission.  In  this  district  of  it,  where  the  County 
Town   of  Reading  lies,  there  are  seven  families  of  these  amounting  to  the 


345  [1/63. 

number  of  48  Souls,  of  which  twelve  are  under  7  years  of  age.  Besides  these 
there  are  about  20  unbaptized  Anabaptists  who  reside  in  Town  and  now  and 
then  make  up  a  part  of  our  Congregation.  The  younger  people  among  these 
I  have  been  at  all  pains  to  instruct  in  the  nature  and  use  of  Baptism  and  have 
succeeded  so  far  as  to  have  baptized  four  of  them  at  Easter.  The  prejudices 
of  the  rest  I  hope  also  to  remove  after  sometime's  instruction  &  have  prevailed 
on  the  most  of  them  already  to  accept  of  some  of  the  Societie's  tracts  of  their 
better  preparation  for  this  Divine  Ordinance,  which  seems  to  be  so  much  neg- 
lected here  amongst  many  beside  Quakers,  that  like  them  they  live  and  dye 
without  it,  either  thro'  their  own  supine  Indolence,  or  the  Doctrine  of  their 
Spiritual  Guides,  who  require  such  a  perfection  in  point  either  of  Morals  or  of 
knowledge  in  some  abstruse  party  tenet,  as  perhaps  no  Man  dead  more 
than  alive  is  capable  of:  Insomuch  that  the  stupid  wavering  or  distracted  case 
of  some  becomes  matter  indeed  of  the  deepest  concern  in  more  Religious 
respects  than  one. 

The  state  of  this  part  of  the  Mission  is  considerably  altered  since  the  year 
1760,  when  the  Society  was  addressed  for  a  Missionary  by  the  removal  of  sev- 
eral and  death  of  others  besides.  It  was  then  expected  that  many  of  the 
Presbyterian  families  in  Town,  and  in  time  all  of  them,  would  have  united  with 
the  Church  people,  but  no  Missionary  being  appointed  timeously  enough  for 
that  purpose,  they  towards  the  close  of  last  Summer  employed  a  preacher  of 
their  own  persuasion,  and  to  establish  themselves  the  more  firmly  and  respect- 
ably are  building  a  very  neat  Meeting-house  in  Town,  and  being  none  of  the 
most  bigotted  sort  have  raised  a  large  sum  to  purchase  an  Organ  for  it.  Thus 
this  opportunity,  which  promised  so  fair  for  a  Junction,  being  lost,  it  is  hard  to 
say  when  such  another  will  offer  again. 

However  in  Molatton  the  other  District  of  the  Mission,  there  are  36  fami 
lies  of  our  Church  consisting  of  232  Souls,  whereof  65  are  under  7  years  of 
age  ;  all  of  these  are  baptized  to  a  very  few,  being  chiefly  of  Swedish  Extract. 
At  Molatton  there  is  a  ruinous  kind  of  Church  built  of  Logs  or  rough  Timber 
about  30  years  ago  by  the  Swedes,  and  as  a  great  part  of  the  Congregation 
there  consists  of  these  I  have  been  hitherto  allowed  the  use  of  it,  but  it  matters 
very  little  whether  I  am  or  not  for  the  future  as  it  will  cost  as  much  to  repair 
it  as  would  build  a  new  one  of  like  materials  &  dimensions  in  a  rather  more 
convenient  centrical  place.  In  the  County  Town  where  I  reside  there  is  no 
Church  at  all,  so  that  we  meet  in  a  Dwelling-house  that  is  hired  for  holding  the 


1 763-]  346 

Civil  Courts  in.  Nor  is  there  any  Glebe  or  parsonage-house  in  either  of  the 
two  places  nor  allowance  made  for  the  want  of  them  above  the  ^60  currency 
they  engaged  to  the  Society  to  pay  the  Missionary,  and  this  sum  only,  each 
for  himself  from  year  to  year  and  for  no  longer  time,  and  as  they  are  people 
of  contracted  fortunes  it  is  not  in  their  power  to  furnish  any  of  these  different 
accommodations  for  a  Minister,  nor  that  liberal  encouragement  their  inclina- 
tions, which  I  think  are  very  good,  would  otherwise  lend  them  to  give. 

What  the  number  of  Inhabitants  in  this  County  is  1  have  not  yet  been  able 
to  learn,  only  in  this  Town,  which  was  founded  about  1 1  years  ago.  There 
are  210  families,  that  is  about  1300  persons  young  and  old,  1  10  of  these  fami- 
lies are  German  Lutherans,  who  have  a  Minister  of  their  own,  and  about  half 
as  many  German  Calvanists,  the  rest  chiefly  Quakers  and  a  few  Papists  with  6 
or  7  families  belonging  to  our  Church.  The  County  for  Miles  round  this  Town 
is  thick  peopled,  but  what  few  else  than  Germans  and  Quakers  the  former 
being  computed  1  2  to  1  of  all  other  Nations  together,  and  seem  to  be  abun- 
dantly well  provided  in  Teachers  of  one  denomination  or  another,  and  as  long 
as  they  are  so  Blindly  attached  to  their  Native  Tongue  as  they  are  at  present 
an  English  Minister  can  be  of  no  great  service  to  them.  For  tho'  they  might 
be  at  no  loss  for  English  Schoolmasters  yet  they  choose  to  send  their  Children 
rather  to  German  Schools,  which  they  have  everywhere  in  great  plenty. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

ALEXR  MURRAY. 


M'\  NEILL  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Oxford,  May  2d,  1763. 

Revd  Sir, 

•  *  *  The  Quakers  about  18  months  ago  having  received  a 
small  pamphlet  from  England  against  water  Baptism  and  being  very  indus- 
trious in  handing  them  among  my  people,  I  immediately  collected  and  abridged 
what  was  material  upon  that  subject  in  voluminous  authors   (for  we  had  noth- 


347  [i763- 

ing  small  upon  the  subject)  and  reduced  the  arguments  to  the  size  of  two 
small  Sermons,  and  published  them  by  way  of  antidote,  tho'  without  my  name. 
I  made  a  present  of  One  hundred  and  fifty  Copies  to  my  people,  and  the 
printer  sold  about  Five  hundred  more  which  paid  him  for  his  trouble.  This 
happened  to  be  very  seasonable  for  I  have  heard  no  more  of  the  contro- 
versy since;  so  that  I  hope  when  the  Society's  present  of  Wall  upon  Infant 
Baptism  arrives,  the  Sectaries  will  be,  if  not  convinced,  at  least  confuted  and 
silenced.  I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  send  home  to  the  Society  one  of  these 
pamphlets  that  I  published  in  favor  of  Water  Baptism.  I  have  made  diligent 
enquiry  throughout  this  province,  and  find  upon  examination  that  there  are 
thirty  different  persuasions  who  have  public  preachers  among  them. 

I  am  quite  satisfied  with  the  Society's  reasons  for  not  reimbursing  Mission- 
aries for  their  improvements  on  Glebes ;  and  shall  only  add  that  if  they  were 
as  well  acquainted  with  them  when  they  die  as  when  they  enter  into  the  Mis- 
sion they  would  find  little  difference  in  their  estates.  This  is  no  country  for  a 
Missionary  to  make  his  fortune,  when  the  only  way  for  him  to  increase  his  Con- 
gregation, is  to  give  up  all  pretentions  to  their  subscriptions  and  to  let  them 
know  that  he  preaches  freely  among  them  as  the  apostles  did,  without  fee  or 
reward. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

HUGH  NEILL. 


M\  BARTON  to  the  Secretary. 


Lancaster  in  Pennsylvania,  June  28th,  1763. 
Revd  Sir, 

It  is  however  a  great  satisfaction  to  me  to  observe  that 
the  Churches  in  this  Mission  make  now  as  decent  an  appearance  as  any 
Churches  in  the  province,  those  of  Philadelphia  excepted.  But  much  more  is 
the  pleasure  I  feel  in  observing  them  crowded  every  Sunday  during  the  Sum- 
mer Season  with  people  of  almost  every  denomination  who  come  many  of 
them  thirty  and  forty  Miles.     I  hope  I  may  without  confidence  be  allowed  to 


1 763-]  348 

assure  you  that  it  has  pleased  my  Blessed  Master  thro'  my  weak  labours  to 
add  some  to  the  Church ;  and  that  amidst  the  mad  zeal  and  distractions  of  the 
Religionists  that  surround  me,  I  have  never  been  deserted  by  any  of  those 
whom  I  had  received  in  charge.  I  don't  expect  I  shall  be  able  many  years  to 
perform  the  duties  of  this  Mission.  The  fatigue  of  riding  20  Miles  to  one 
Church  and  18  to  another  in  the  cold  of  our  Winters  and  excessive  heat  of 
our  Summers,  has  already  much  impaired  my  Constitution,  which  I  had  reason 
to  value  as  an  excellent  one.     But  I  do  not  mean  to  complain. 

I  should  be  glad  to  introduce  to  the  notice  of  the  Venerable  Society  Mr. 
Nathan  Evans  an  Old  Man  belonging  to  Carnarvon  Congregation  whose  gen- 
erosity to  the  Church  is  perhaps  unequal'd  in  this  part  of  the  world.  Tho'  he 
acquired  his  Estate  by  hard  labour  and  industry  he  has  given  to  the  Congre- 
gation of  which  he  is  a  Member  the  sum  of  ^100  towards  finishing  their 
Church ;  and  purchased  a  Glebe  of  about  40  acres,  which  he  has  conveyed  to 
them  for  the  use  of  the  Minister,  which  in  time  may  be  a  valuable  appendage 
to  a  Missionary's  living,  tho'  at  present  no  profits  arise  from  it,  as  it  is  quite 
unimproved.  Besides  this,  he  promises  to  assign  over  to  them  a  Bond  for 
;£ioo  more  which  will  be  due  in  about  10  years,  to  be  put  to  interest  on  Land 
security  for  the  benefit  of  the  Missionary,  and  has  executed  another  Bond  to 
them,  which  obliges  him  and  his  heirs  to  pay  me  £3  a  year  while  I  shall  be 
continued  Minister  of  that  Church  and  20  shillings  after  my  removal  to  my 
successors  for  ever.  Beneficence  so  Noble  and  disinterested  as  this,  as  it 
claims  the  regard  of  every  good  Man,  will  I  make  no  doubt  meet  a  favorable 
reception  from  the  Venerable  Society  and  appear  upon  their  Records  to  the 
honour  of  this  worthy  Man. 

I  intended  in  my  first  Letter  to  ask  the  Society's  leave  to  go  for  a  few 
months  among  the  Indians,  in  hopes  of  being  able  with  God's  Grace  to  open  a 
Mission  among  those  miserable  unenlightened  people.  But  these  hopes  are 
all  vanished  !  The  Barbarians  have  renewed  their  Hostilities  against  us,  and 
our  Country  bleeds  again  under  the  Savage  knife  !  The  dreadful  news  of 
Murdering,  Burning  and  Scalping  is  daily  conveyed  to  us,  and  confirmed  with 
shocking  additions.  Our  Traders  with  Goods  to  the  amount  of  ,£200,000  are 
taken.  Our  Garrisons  have  been  invested,  and  some  of  them  obliged  to  sur- 
render. Above  50  Miles  of  the  finest  Country  in  America  are  already  desert- 
ed, and  the  people  having  left  their  crops  in  the  Ground,  almost  ready  for 
the  Sickle  are  reduced  to  the  most  consummate  distress  and  all  this  unfortu- 


349  [x763. 

nately  happens  at  a  time  when  our  Soldiery  is  discharged,  our  province  in  a 
defenceless  State,  and  when  we  imagined  ourselves  going  into  the  Arms  of 
Peace  to  sing  a  lasting  Requiem  !  From  what  cause  this  defection  of  the  In- 
dians arises  is  not  known.  But  those  who  are  best  acquainted  with  their  policy 
think  it  is  likely  to  be  general,  and  if  so,  one  half  of  the  Inhabitants  will  be 
massacred  before  any  proper  relief  can  be  obtained  for  them.  A  Number  of 
Poor  Soldiers  who  are  but  lately  arrived  from  the  Siege  of  the  Havanna  are 
now  marching  in  all  the  pomp  of  war  to  oppose  these  wretches.  What  may  be 
the  issue  of  this  new  Insurrection,  God  only  knows,  who  will  I  trust,  in  His 
good  time  deliver  us  out  of  the  hands  of  this  cruel  enemy. 

I  remain,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

THOs  BARTON. 


M\  ROSS  to  the  Secretary, 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  July  6th,  1763. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  *  *  We  have  lately  chose  the  Reverend  Mr.  Richard  Peters 
to  be  Rector  of  Christ's  Church  in  this  city,  a  Gentleman  of  Great  Fortune  and 
Eminent  as  a  Divine  Preacher.  He  has  been  long  engaged  in  secular  em- 
ployment to  his  no  small  temporal  advantage  ;  and  is  now  determined  to  close 
the  scene  of  life  in  the  service  of  his  God  for  his  own  and  the  good  of  other 
Souls.  I  am  satisfied  he  will  be  of  vast  service  to  the  interest  of  the  Church 
of  England  in  this  province. 

Great  troubles  are  again  come  on  the  Inhabitants  of  His  Majesty's 
Northern  Colonies.  The  savage  Indian  Nations  are  all  in  arms  against  us. 
The  poor  frontier  Settlements  all  evacuated.  The  terror  and  panick  which 
has  seized  the  Inhabitants  of  the  frontiers  is  amazing.  Men,  women  and 
children  by  hundreds  fly  for  fear  into  the  interior  settled  parts  of  the  provin- 
ces, leaving  the  most  plentiful  crops  of  wheat  and  every  other  kind  of  grain 


1 763-]  35o 

ever  known  to  grow  in  America,  behind  them,  to  be  lost,  burned,  or  destroyed 
by  cattle,  wild  Beasts  and  Savages.  The  General  Assemblys  of  the  respective 
provinces  are  summon'd  to  meet.  And  it's  hoped  they  will  raise  sufficient 
Men  and  Money  to  carry  the  war  into  the  Indian  country  and  there  allay  and 
chastise  this  Savage  Insurrection. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

JOHN  ROSS. 


Mr.    CRAIG  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Chester,  July  11th,   1763. 
Revd  Sir, 

The  above  is  my  Notitia  for  last  year,  whereby  you'll  perceive  the  little  or 
no  ground  the  Church  gains  in  this  quarter  where  for  10,  15  or  20  miles 
around,  Quakerism  is  the  leading  principle,  and  (excepting  the  City  of  Phila- 
delphia), their  greatest  number  is  to  be  found  in  this  county  of  Chester  of  any 
in  the  province  of  Pennsylvania  not  but  that  they  are  more  or  less  in  every 
County,  yet  more  eminently  so  in  the  above  mentioned  places  and  gain 
ground  they  must  everywhere,  if  admitted  into  the  Seat  of  Government,  and 
the  power  of  Magistracy  is  conferred  upon  them,  as  both  are  here  at  present. 
Besides  that  unwarrantable  liberty  they  take  with  Divine  Revelation,  in  every 
now  and  then  printing  and  publishing  pamphlets  against  the  received  opin- 
ions and  doctrines  of  all  the  Christian  Church  has  no  small  influence  over  their 
weak  Neighbours,  wherefore  to  obviate  this  infection  and  to  bring  into  the 
way  of  truth  all  that  have  erred  and  are  deceived  I  could  wish  that  some  of 
our  able  divines  would  sometimes  put  pen  to  paper  and  in  the  spirit  of  meek- 
ness, set  themselves  to  oppose  the  arid  notions  of  Quakerism,  which  the  Soci- 
ety's Missionaries  might  disperse  among  their  people. 

I  am  glad  to  find  in  the  public  prints  that  the  Government  intends  a  Bishop 
for  America,  which  presents  me  with  an  opportunity  to  transmit  two  addresses 


35i  [i763- 

on  that  head  agreeable  to  the  opinion  of  some  well  disposed  Members  of 
those  churches  where  I  officiated  before  my  appointment  to  this  mission  which 
have  lain  by  me  ever  since  1 75 1 .  Not  thinking  it  expedient  to  trouble  the 
Society  with  them  till  now  that  the  affair  seems  under  consideration,  for  to 
secret  them  would  be  doing  injustice  to  some  of  those  who  are  now  in  eter- 
nity as  well  as  to  the  good  design  of  them  who  are  yet  alive. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

GEO.   CRAIG. 


M\    THOMSON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Carlisle,  18th  July,  1763. 
Revd  Sir, 

My  parishioners  fall  far  short  of  the  support  which  they  promised  and  it 
is  occasioned  by  the  principle  people  wanting  to  make  a  greater  shew  for  the 
support  of  their  Minister  than  their  abilities  will  permit  and  that  they  may  be 
nothing  behind  their  Neighbours,  take  in  subscriptions  from  all  sorts,  many 
of  which  are  not  able  to  pay  anything  and  those  who  take  in  the  subscriptions 
are  not  willing  to  make  up  the  deficiency  unless  they  are  obliged  by  law, 
which  if  I  was  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  would  entirely  ruin  my  usefullness 
here.  I  assure  you  that  in  the  preceding  twelve  months  I  have  not  received 
the  sum  of  Fifteen  pounds  currency,  and  tho'  my  living  falls  short  of  my 
expectations  I  have  officiated  regularly  upwards  of  three  years  and  I  hope  not 
unsuccessfully,  and  with  pleasure  I  say  it  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  my 
parishioners.  The  Indians  have  again  made  incursions  upon  our  frontiers, 
killing,  scalping  and  butchering  all  who  are  so  unhappy  as  to  fall  into  their 
hands.  There  are  upwards  of  1 500  plantations  evacuated  and  people  are 
daily  crowding  towards  the  interior  parts  of  the  province  for  refuge,  leav- 
ing all  they  have  to  the  spoil  of  a  merciless,  cruely  Bloodthirsty  Barba- 
rian.    I  am  heartily  sorry  to  inform  you  that  I  am  so  unhappy  as  to  make  one 


1763-]  352 

of  the  Number  that  have  fled  and  left  the  greatest  part  of  my  living  to  be 
pillaged  by  the  Heathen.  I  have  brought  my  wife  to  this  little  Town  where 
every  Hutt  is  filled  with  helpless  women  and  children  and  where  we  expect 
almost  every  moment  an  Invasion  from  our  Enemies — what  the  event  will  be 
God  only  knows,  but  without  his  Almighty  aid  and  interposition  there  is 
neither  appearance  of  safety  or  relief  in  this  part.  Every  face  here  is  covered 
with  the  deepest  Melancholy  and  dispair.  My  situation  here  is  very  disagree- 
able, penn'd  in  a  small  Fort  without  being  able  to  pass  my  circuit  of  duty 
with  safety,  and  what  makes  it  more  deplorable  no  appearance  of  being 
relieved. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

Wm  THOMSON. 


M\  CURRIE  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Radnor,  Sept.  29th,   1763. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  acquaint  you  that  my  congregations  of  Radnor  and 
the  Valley  daily  encrease  ;  but  that  at  Perquihanna  rather  declines,  as  the 
Dutch  buy  out  the  English  and  settle  in  their  room.  I  have  acquainted  the 
Society  that  the  Glebe  House  is  in  ruins,  and  have  expected  orders  from  time 
to  time  to  the  congregations  to  repair  it,  and  if  it  is  not  repaired  soon,  I  must 
beg  leave  to  petition  the  Society  for  a  remove  to  another  Mission,  where  I 
can  have  a  better  support  for  my  numerous  and  expensive  family  having 
nothing  to  depend  upon  here  but  the  Rent  of  the  Glebe  which  is  but  Five 
pounds,  this  currency  Parr;  and  about  Twenty  pounds  a  year  for  Marriages 
besides  the  Society's  Salary. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

WILLM  CURRIE. 


353  [1763. 

M'\    THOMSON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Carlisle,  2nd  Oct.  1763. 
Revd  Sir, 

We  had  very  little  respite  from  Indian   Ravages  since  my 
letter  to  you  dated  the  18th  of  July  last. 

The  distressing  circumstances  of  this  Mission  I  can't  possibly  describe. 
Everything  here  is  in  the  greatest  confusion  and  utmost  disorder.  The 
Farmers  and  Inhabitants  of  this  County  are  daily  flying  from  place  to  place 
where  they  can  have  any  prospect  of  safety,  and  indeed  many  are  reduced  to 
the  necessity  of  taking  up  their  Lodging  in  the  open  air  without  shelter  or 
cloathing  to  cover  them  from  the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  or  even  Bread 
for  themselves  or  families  to  subsist  on.  Our  Ears  are  daily  alarmed  with  the 
shocking  news  of  fresh  Butcheries  committed  by  the  Heathen  on  some  of  our 
friends  or  neighbours,  Butcheries  of  the  most  base  kind  that  Indian  barbarity 
agitated  by  Heathenish  cruelty  can  be  guilty  of.  I  have  with  great  difficulty 
waded  through  my  Tour  of  duty  and  tho'  often  in  the  midst  of  danger,  yet  I 
always  had  the  satisfaction  of  meeting  my  parishioners  at  their  respective 
churches  with  hearts  glowing  with  the  Love  of  their  country  and  Religion  and 
seem  firmly  resolved  to  defend  both  at  the  risk  of  their  lives. 

Col.  Boquet  is  got  safe  to  Fort  Pitt  with  a  very  considerable  loss.  He  was 
warmly  engaged  with  the  Savages  for  two  days,  but  to  his  eternal  honor  be  it 
spoke,  he  routed  them,  and  disconcerted  their  designs  and  put  them  to  flight, 
and  carried  his  important  convoy  to  the  relief  of  the  poor  distressed  people 
at  Fort  Pitt  who  were  obliged  by  the  enemy  to  stay  there  upwards  of  two 
months  without  either  good  or  wholesome  provisions.  This  unequall'd  be- 
haviour will  I  hope  be  a  means  of  restoring  peace  to  this  part  of  our  colony 
sooner  than  we  at  first  expected. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

WM  THOMSON. 


1 763-]  354 

Mr.  NEILL  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Oxford,  Oct.  17th,  1763. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  Having  an  opportunity  by  Captain  Hammit,  who  sails  in 

a  few  days  from  Philadelphia  to  London,  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  acquaint  you 
that  my  parish  remains  in  the  same  unity  and  affection  they  were  in  when  I 
wrote  last.  How  long  it  will  continue  so  God  only  knows.  For  Mr.  White- 
field  arriving  lately  among  us,  and  meeting  with  a  most  cordial  reception 
from  the  Episcopal  Clergy  of  Philadelphia  has  thrown  the  Clergy  and  Laity 
in  the  country  into  a  very  great  consternation.  The  unanimity  among  the 
Church  clergy  both  in  city  and  country  for  this  three  and  twenty  years  past  in 
opposing  him  prevented  his  hurting  the  Church  (a  few  individuals  excepted). 
The  divisions  that  he  created  among  the  Dissenters  in  this  province,  and  all 
over  America  were  examples  sufficient  to  warn  us  from  splitting  upon  the  same 
Rock.  But  such  has  been  the  fatality  of  our  City  Brethren  that  they  have 
received  him  with  open  arms  and  still  continue  to  follow  him  from  the  Church 
to  the  Meeting  houses  and  from  thence  to  the  Church  again,  with  a  greater 
degree  of  veneration  (I  really  believe)  than  if  his  Grace  of  Canterbury  was 
to  condescend  to  pay  them  a  visit. 

Mr.  Duche,  one  of  the  assistant  Ministers  of  Christ's  Church  in  Philadel- 
phia and  Mr.  Wrangle  the  Swedish  Minister,  have  appeared  more  openly 
than  the  others  in  preaching  up  his  Doctrine  and  espousing  his  cause — they 
have  set  up  private  Meetings  in  Town,  where  they  admit  of  none  but  such  as 
they  deem  converted.  The  Swedish  Missionary,  Mr.  Wrangle,  has  set  up  a 
week  day  Lecture  within  a  small  distance  of  my  Church  of  Oxford,  with  a 
view  to  make  some  impressions  on  my  people,  but  he  has  failed  hitherto. 

I  have  wrote  to  several  of  my  Brethren  in  the  country,  and  as  far  as  I 
have  received  their  answers  as  yet,  they  appear  resolved  in  joining  me  in 
opposing  him.  If  so,  I  hope  the  schism  will  end  where  it  began  ;  however  the 
disputes  at  present  among  the  people  run  very  high,  some  blaming  the  Mis- 
sionaries for  not  joining  him,  whilst  others  condemn  the  Clergy  in  Town  for 
introducing  him  into  the  churches  or  suffering  him  to  have  any  footing  among 


355  [1763. 

us.  The  Presbyterians  were  a  laughing  stock  for  many  years  to  all  other 
denominations  on  account  of  the  divisions  among  them  by  Whitefield,  till 
experience  taught  them  the  necessity  of  making  a  coalition  of  all  parties  in 
order  to  strengthen  the  whole.  I  am  afraid  they  will  have  it  now  in  their 
power  to  turn  the  tables  upon  us,  by  this  fatal  step  of  the  Philadelphia  clergy. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

HUGH  NEILL. 


M\   STURGEON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  Nov.  20th,  1763. 
Revd  Doctor, 

Dr.  Jenney  was  seized  with  a  palsy  which  continued  to  his 
death,  and  laid  the  whole  duty  of  the  parish  on  me  for  more  than  five  years. 
This  I  acquainted  the  Society  with  and  also  that  my  family  was  large  and  my 
support  very  small,  and  therefore  requested  to  be  removed  to  some  Mission, 
or  that  they  would  increase  my  salary.  This  they  were  pleased  to  grant  and 
added  ^20  a  year  to  my  former  £z°- 

In  this  situation  things  were  till  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Mc — gan  who  was  invi- 
ted to  preach  in  our  church  and  soon  drew  numbers  after  him  and  set  the 
whole  congregation  on  fire  (one  of  the  chief  of  his  partizans  was  Mr.  John 
Ross,  a  Member  of  the  Honble  Society),  and  after  some  time  he  was  dismissed 
the  church  and  went  to  preach  at  the  State  House,  to  a  large  Number  of 
people,  and  Mr.  Ross  at  their  head.  In  the  meantime  I  did  what  I  could  to 
keep  the  people  together,  and  sometimes  almost  in  danger  of  my  life  from  an 
incensed  Mob  and  a  few  artful  Libertines.  This  I  gave  an  account  of  to 
the  Society  in  my  letters  from  time  to  time,  and  also  that  I  expected  no  favour 
from  one  or  two  powerful  Enemies.  The  Chief  of  these  facts  Dr.  Smith,  if 
he  should  be  called  upon,  would  testify.  At  length  Dr.  Jenney  died  and  I  was 
elected  one  of  the  Ministers  of  the  United  churches  of  which  I  acquainted 
you,  and  that  the  Vestry  voted  my  Salary  from  the   Honble  Society  as  part  of 


1 764-]  356 

my  living.  All  this  time  I  preached  twice  every  Sunday  and  read  prayers 
and  did  all  other  duties  of  the  parish,  and  on  Wednesdays  catechised  the 
white  children,  and  on  every  Friday  the  Negroes,  and  instructed  both  in  the 
sense  and  purport  of  each  part ;  and  for  more  than  17  years  preached  every 
Tuesday  at  the  City  Alms  House,  and  once  in  three  weeks  during  the  Sum- 
mer Season  went  to  a  church  in  the  country  that  has  no  Minister,  and  read 
prayers  and  preached  and  did  baptize  many.  This  has  been  my  constant 
method  from  my  first  arrival  to  this  day  and  lo  !  now  I  am  discharged  from 
the  service  of  one  of  the  most  Honble  Societies  in  the  world,  and  what  is  the 
most  hard  to  bear,  for  neglect  of  duty  to  the  negroes,  and  by  the  means  of 
one  who  has  been  the  chief  Instrument  of  dividing  our  Church.  He  is  and  has 
been  long  my  Enemy,  and  I  glory  to  have  him  as  such  till  God  is  pleased  to 
touch  his  heart.  I  mean  Mr.  John  Ross  of  this  city,  who  has  been  to  me  what 
the  coppersmith  was  to  St.  Paul. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

WM  STURGEON. 


M\   MURRAY  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT. 


Reading,  25thJan'y,  1764. 

Revd  Sir, 

*         *         *  My  congregation  here  has  increased  from  7  to  18  fami- 

lies consisting  of  121  Souls,  Young  and  Old.  Of  the  New  Members  some 
were  Presbyterians,  some  Baptists,  some  Quakers  and  some  of  our  Commun- 
ion lately  settled  in  Town.  Of  the  Quakers  and  Baptists  I  christened  13  on 
last  Christmas  day  and  5  before  then  ;  of  whom  10  were  adult  persons,  par- 
ticularly one  gentleman,  the  principal  attorney  at  Law  in  this  place,  whose  ex- 
ample had  a  very  good  effect  in  disposing  the  rest  to  be  admitted  into  the 
church  by  Baptism.  These  18  with  7  Infants  besides  are  all  I  have  Baptized 
in  the  district  of  Reading  since  last  April.  I  dispensed  the  Sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  to   5    persons  Christmas   last,  and  with   these  I  was  obliged  to 


357  [1764. 

retire  to  a  private  house  on  this  occasion  as  we  have  no  church  like  others,  to 
assemble  in. 

The  congregation  at  Molatton,  the  other  part  of  my  Mission,  has 
decreased  by  Removals  to  29  families,  making  in  all  185  ;  of  which  I  have 
baptized  2  adults  and  1 2  Infants.  I  can  no  more  prevail  on  that  people  than 
these  here  in  Town  to  engage  heartily  in  any  scheme  for  Building  a  church ; 
so  I  despair  of  seeing  one  erected  in  either  of  the  places  for  some  time  to 
come  as  I  do  of  a  parsonage  house  and  Glebe  without  which  it  is  no  easy 
matter  to  live  in  a  Town — and  for  voluntary  subscriptions,  they  are  so  very 
precarious,  trifling  and  troublesome  to  collect,  that  little  more  can  long  be  de- 
pended upon  here,  than  the  Society's  Salary. 

It  is  the  unanimous  opinion  of  all  here  who  wish  well  to  the  preservation 
&  enlargement  of  the  Church,  that  in  the  Settlement  of  our  late  conquests 
in  America  application  should  be  made  in  the  very  beginning  for  the  allot- 
ment of  Lands  towards  the  support  of  a  Clergy  regularly  ordained  in  our 
Church,  after  the  example  of  the  French,  who  constantly  pursued  this  scheme 
in  Canada,  &  thereby  maintained  a  numerous  Body  of  priests  and  Jesuits, 
who  are  over  zealous  and  active  in  proselyting  the  Natives  and  sowing  among 
them  the  seeds  of  prejudice  and  antipathy  against  the  British  as  too  provi- 
dently appears  from  their  singular  attachment  to  the  French  still.  It  cannot 
be  expected  that  the  Society's  funds  can  extend  beyond  the  present  limits 
they  have  set  to  them;  and  if  they  continue  sufficient  to  preserve  even  the 
present  Missions,  it  is  all,  at  the  utmost,  can  be  hoped  from  them. 

The  Number  of  Papists  in  this  county  I  have  not  got  a  more  particular 
account  of  yet  than  what  I  sent  you  in  my  last,  nor  that  of  Dissenters  of 
which  we  have  some  of  every  name.  But  the  state  of  their  several  congrega- 
tions are  rather  too  evident  from  their  scandalous  differences  and  animosities, 
each  within  itself  as  well  as  with  one  another.  The  people  are  ever  and  anon 
quarrelling  with  their  preachers,  whom,  of  humor  and  caprice,  they  change 
much  oftener  than  they  renew  their  cloaths,  so  that  it  is  a  great  deal  if  they 
are  not  all  by  the  Ears  in  a  twelvemonth.  They  are  supported  by  annual 
contributions,  which  are  made  good  the  first  year;  then  they  are  wearied,  and 
both  parties  find  it  convenient  to  part,  the  Minister  to  find  a  fresh  subsistence, 
&  the  people  to  get  a  new  one  in  his  place,  no  matter  whether  better  or  worse, 
so  be  their  itch  after  novelty  is  gratified.  In  this  perpetual  round  of  changes 
and  contentions,  they  sometimes  move  with  a  seeming  gravity  as  they  do  at 


I763-]  358 

others  with  all  the  party  Rage  and  violence  of  Men  out  of  their  senses,  end- 
ing in  provoking  Libels  and  Lampoons  and  in  Batteries  and  Bloodshed,  twixt 
pastor  and  people,  as  here  of  late ;  which  forms  the  most  ludicrous  and  piti- 
able contrast  imaginable,  and  has  too  manifest  a  tendency  to  expose  the  min- 
isterial character  to  such  obloquy  and  contempt  without  distinction  as  I  could 
hardly  have  thought  it  could  be  loaded  with  in  any  Christian  Country  as 
I  observe  it  generally  is  here.  In  the  short  time  I  have  been  here  the  Bap- 
tists, Lutherans  and  Calvinists  (the  most  numerous  Sects  in  this  Town  and 
Country  adjacent),  have  changed  their  Ministers,  and  are  still  unprovided  as 
they  have  been  for  some  months  past.  In  the  midst  of  these  convulsions  & 
wildfire,  I  leave  you  to  judge  what  state  of  mind  I  must  necessarily  be  in ; 
not  knowing  often  what  course  to  steer,  that  if  possible,  I  may  give  no 
offence:  and  hitherto  I  have  been  abundantly  happy  to  preserve  the  favor  of 
my  own  people  and  have  no  share  in  the  quarrels  of  the  others.  A  Minister 
here  must  double  his  guard  and  deny  himself  many  of  the  innocent  comforts 
and  liberties  of  life  and  undergo  as  many  of  its  inconveniences,  toils  and 
troubles,  if  ever  he  would  succeed  in  his  work,  particularly  in  the  frontier  Mis- 
sions, as  of  Berks,  Lancaster,  York  and  Cumberland,  an  extent  of  above  150 
miles  and  where  there  are  but  three  Missionaries  only,  Messrs  Barton  & 
Thomson  and  myself,  who  are  obliged  to  itinerate  to  our  different  congrega- 
tions which  are  distant  30,  20,  18,  15  Miles  from  our  respective  places  of  resi- 
dence and  that  in  the  severest  Seasons  of  extreme  heat  and  cold  and  to  be 
from  home  for  weeks  together  and  at  the  year's  end  scarce  receive  so  much 
as  would  satisfy  an  ordinary  mechanic.  '  So  that  I  am  often  surprised  how 
such  of  my  Brethren  subsist,  who  have  large  families,  as  Mr.  Barton  whose 
singular  merit  I  humbly  think  deserves  the  notice  of  the  Venerable  Society. 
I  am  still  a  Single  Man  and  it  will  be  prudent  for  me  to  continue  such  in  my 
present  circumstances.  In  time  of  war  our  situation  is  deplorable  enough. 
Mr.  Thomson,  who  had  retired  to  a  plantation  to  retrench  the  expences  of 
living,  was  drove  off  by  the  Indians  and  obliged  to  abandon  his  all  and  take 
shelter  with  his  family  in  another  Man's  house  in  Carlisle. 

Many  of  the  Dissenting  Clergy,  without  any  assistance  from  the  Mother 
Country,  are  upon  a  better  footing  than  those  of  the  National  Church,  for 
while  the  latter  in  obedience  to  the  canons  chuse  rather  to  suffer  many  hard- 
ships than  engage  in  secular  employments,  the  former  besides  the  stipends 
they  receive   from   their  numerous  congregations,   are   indiscriminately  con- 


359  [1764. 

cerned  in  every  branch  of  trade  and  hold  civil  &  Military  Offices,  and  such  of 
them  as  are  not  employed  in  this  way  are  reduced  to  that  state  of  dependence 
and  contempt  I  have  mentioned  before  of  the  three  Sects  I  took  notice  of  in 
the  former  part  of  my  letter.  The  Baptists  are  rather  the  least  factious, 
therefore  I  performed  Divine  Service  Sunday  last  in  one  of  their  meeting 
houses  about  6  Miles  from  here,  and  if  I  meet  with  any  encouragement  and 
success  among  them  I  shall  advise  the  Society,  that  I  may  be  allowed  to  at- 
tend them  at  stated  times. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

ALEXR  MURRAY. 


M\    THOMSON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Carlisle,  15th  Feb'y,  1764. 
Revd  Sir, 

Tho'  this  late  Indian  war  has  distressed  many  of  the 
Members  of  the  Church  of  England  in  this  Mission,  yet  it  is  with  pleasure 
that  I  assure  you  they  have  shewn  their  zeal  and  resolution  to  defend  their 
perishing  country  to  such  a  degree,  as  has  made  them  not  only  respectable 
but  much  beloved  by  their  Neighbours.         *         *         * 

I  am,  Revd  S  r,  &c, 

Wm  THOMSON. 


1764.]  36o 

Mr.  NEILL  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Oxford,  June  25th,   1764. 
Revd  Sir, 

Mr.  Wrangle  the  Swedish  Missionary  in  Philadelphia  has 
labored  (ever  since  Mr.  Whitfield  was  here  last  Fall)  with  the  utmost  assiduity 
to  establish  a  Methodist's  place  of  worship  in  the  center  of  my  people.  Some 
of  the  descendants  of  the  Swedes  who  originally  settled  in  these  parts,  and 
who  were  constant  attendants  at  my  church,  having  fell  in  with  him,  he 
preached  at  their  house  according  to  the  Dissenting  mode,  without  any  forms, 
which  drew  a  collection  of  Dissenters  to  hear  him,  as  well  as  some  of  the 
Church.  He  set  a  subscription  on  foot  in  order  to  raise  money  for  building 
a  church;  but  it  has  had  little  success  hitherto,  notwithstanding  the  counte- 
nance it  received  from  Mr.  Duche  and  his  friends  in  the  City. 

I  should  never  have  had  so  much  trouble  with  this  Gentleman,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  encouragement  he  meets  with  from  the  English  Clergy  in  Phila- 
delphia, especially  Mr.  Duche,  who  has  formed  his  theological  system  from 
Jacob  Bochmen,  Mr.  Law,  and  Mr.  Whitefield. 

One  of  the  Wardens  of  Christ's  Church  in  Philadelphia,  a  particular  friend 
of  Mr.  Duche's  and  where  he  and  Wrangle  keeps  private  Meetings  according 
to  the  Whitfilian  mode,  has  offered  £\o  towards  Building  this  church  near 
Oxford. 

Such  is  my  critical  situation  at  present,  that  if  I  am  able  to  hold  my 
ground  (not  against  Dissenters  only,  but  professed  friends  to  the  Church),  no 
great  things  can  be  expected  from  my  accounts  to  the  Venerable  Society  till 
the  people's  minds  are  a  little  more  stable  than  usual  for  this  six  months  past. 

The  political  squabble  that  is  now  on  foot  between  the  Quakers  and  Pres- 
byterians,— the  latter  having  raised  a  number  of  men  and  killed  twenty-one 
Indians,  Men,  women  and  children,  at  Lancaster  under  the  protection  of  the 
Government  and  Marched  200  Men  to  German  Town  in  defiance  of  the 
Government,  in  order  to  kill  128  Indians  that  had  fled  to  Philadelphia  for  pro- 
tection, and   would  have  accomplished  their  ends  had  not  the  City  raised 


36i  [1764. 

above  800  Men  with  8  field  pieces  to  oppose  them, — the  Quakers  laid  aside 
all  their  religious  pretended  scruples  about  bearing  arms  and  formed  into 
companies  in  Town,  and  appointed  their  principal  Meeting-house  for  a  Bar- 
rick.  These  disputes  have  set  the  Quakers  and  the  Assembly  upon  using  all 
their  interest  to  procure  a  general  petition  from  the  Inhabitants  of  this  pro- 
vince to  His  Majesty  praying  him  to  take  this  Government  immediately  under 
his  care;  the  Presbyterians  using  all  their  interest  to  oppose  it. 

The  church  is  happily  out  of  the  question.  However  each  side  are  en- 
deavoring to  draw  them  over  to  their  party.  These  civil  commotions  draw 
the  attention  of  the  people  at  present  from  Building  of  churches. 

I  am,  &c, 

HUGH  NEILL. 


M".    CRAIG  to  the   Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Chester,  Septr  3d,  1  764. 
Revd  Sir, 

There  are  very  great  numbers  of  Dissenters  of  all 
kinds  not  only  in  this  Mission  but  all  over  the  province  so  that  I  can  safely 
aver  that  of  200,000  or  as  some  calculate  300,000  Souls,  the  -h  cannot  be 
called  of  our  Church.  Thence  from  such  a  disparity  in  number  and  reasons 
in  the  above  Letter  assigned  together  with  our  youth  intermarrying  with  other 
denominations,  our  Church  is  but  a  mere  shadow  in  comparison  either  of 
the  Presbyterians,  Quakers,  &c,  &c,  so  that  the  older  missions  may  be  com- 
pared to  a  taper  in  the  socket.  I  have  observed  these  things  with  grief 
during  the  nine  years  I  was  Itinerant  missionary  in  this  province,  and  it's  not 
in  the  power  of  missionaries  to  prevent  the  growing  evil. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

GEO.  CRAIG. 


1764.]  362 

M\  THOMSON  to  the  Secretary, 


(EXTRACT.) 


Carlisle,  2nd  Oct.,  1764. 


Revd  Sir, 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  I  am  again  returned  to  my  planta- 
tion from  which  I  was  drove  by  the  Indians  in  June,  1763.  The  prospect  of  a 
peace  with  the  savages,  which  we  now  entertain  the  greatest  hopes  of,  seems 
to  enliven  every  person  in  this  part  of  the  province. 

The  poor  people  now  returning  to  their  plantations  appear  filled  with  new 
life  and  vigour  who  only  a  few  months  ago  were  in  the  utmost  confusion  and 
distress.  May  God  grant  that  peace  &  plenty  may  once  more  be  restored  to 
us.  It  gives  me  the  greatest  pleasure  to  think  that  my  labours  are  not  alto- 
gether unsuccessful  in  this  mission  and  that  I  have  it  in  my  power  to  inform 
you  that  after  a  careful  and  diligent  attendance  on  two  Quaker  families,  one 
of  which  is  no  inconsiderable  person  amongst  that  sect  of  people,  I  have 
been  a  means  thro'  the  Blessing-  and  assistance  of  God  of  their  conforming- 
to  the  Church  of  England  and  have  Baptized  the  parents  and  all  their  children, 
eleven  in  number,  and   I   have   some  hopes   that  more  of  that  sect  will  soon 

join  us. 

I  am,  &c, 

WM  THOMSON. 


M\   READING  to   the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Apoquiniminck,  Octr  18th,  1764. 
Revd  Sir, 

Tho'  in  these  interior  parts  of  the  American  Settlements  where  the  Gos- 
pel of  our  Blessed  Saviour  has  been  in  a  long  course  of  propagation,  the  con- 


363  [1764- 

version  of  such  as  are  literally  pagans  cannot  be  frequently  boasted  of,  yet 
much  thankfulness  is  owing  to  the  Almighty  Author  of  every  good  and  per- 
fect gift  for  that  hopeful  appearance  of  religion,  which  at  this  time  is  visible 
amongst  us.  The  liturgy  of  our  Church  rises  in  the  esteem  of  its  members; 
the  ordinances  are  duly  and  constantly  frequented,  and  the  attachment  of 
many  to  our  communion  seems  to  be  founded  in  a  real  sense  of  the  superior 
excellence  of  our  constitution.  Strangers  who  have  accidentally  attended 
upon  Divine  Service  in  Apoquiniminck  Church  have  expressed  a  very  agree- 
able surprise  at  finding  so  decent  and  regular  a  congregation  in  this  remote 
part  of  the  world. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

PHILIP  READING. 


Mr.  NEILL  to  the  Secretary, 


(EXTRACT.) 

Oxford,  Octr  18th,  1764. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  I  have  the  pleasure  to  acquaint  the  Society  that  my  con- 

gregations appear  to  be  more  steady  than  formerly  and  better  fixed  in  their 
principles,  notwithstanding  the  powerful  efforts  that  Mr.  Whitefield  is  now 
making  in  Philadelphia  and  places  adjacent.  St.  Paul's,  the  College,  and 
Presbyterian  Meeting  houses  were  open  to  him  ;  but  the  salutary  admonitions 
of  His  Grace  of  Canterbury  to  the  Rector,  &c,  of  Christ's  Church  and  St. 
Peter's  has  prevented  his  preaching  at  this  time,  in  either  of  them  :  and  has 
been  no  small  advantage,  towards  the  recovery  of  some  of  my  people,  for 
which  I  beg  leave  to  return  his  Grace  my  most  hearty  thanks. 

I  have  spent  great  part  of  this  summer  in  going  from  house  to  house  in- 
structing my  people  in  the  doctrine  of  water  Baptism,  solving  their  objections 
and  persuading  them  to  bring  their  children  to  that  sacred  ordinance,  and 
have  found  this  method  more  prevalent  than  Sermons.  Numbers  have 
brought  their  children  to  be  christened  and  five  of  them  out  of  one  family. 


1764.]  3^4 

At  the  request  of  my  Brethren  in  the  Jersey,  I  went  to  their  convention 
at  Perth  Amboy  last  month,  where  Dr.  Smith  produced  a  plan  of  a  corres- 
ponding society  in  America  agreed  to  by  the  Venerable  Society  in  England, 
but  as  he  said  sent  over  to  the  clergy  here  for  their  opinion. 

We  are  infinitely  obliged  to  the  Society  for  condescending  so  far  as  to 
consult  us  in  a  matter  that  they  might  have  transacted  wholly  without  us  ;  but 
as  they  have  nothing  more  at  heart  than  the  prosperity  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land in  these  distant  parts  we  humbly  hope  that  the  few  amendments  we  have 
proposed  may  be  agreed  to,  with  some  others,  upon  a  thorough  inspec- 
tion. 

Dr.  Smith  and  Mr.  Auchmuty  were  extremely  desirous  to  obtain  our  con- 
sent to  the  plan  in  its  original  form.  What  their  design  was,  we  could  not 
tell  without  they  were  in  hopes  of  being  agents  themselves.  The  mission- 
aries were  however  unanimously  against  them.  The  power  given  to  the  agent 
in  the  4th  article,  we  apprehended  was  unknown  in  the  English  Church,  as  it 
constituted  him  an  arbitrator  in  civil  as  well  as  Ecclesiastical  affairs,  and  was 
he  to  stretch  his  prerogative  (especially  as  he  is  circumscribed  by  no  rule,  but 
his  own  will  and  pleasure),  it  would  deprive  the  clergy  the  benefit  of  the 
Laws  of  their  country.  It  is  true  he  is  to  do  things  in  an  amicable  manner; 
but  it  is  as  true  that  if  a  debt  or  any  other  matter  of  property,  happens  to  be 
disputed  between  a  missionary  and  one  of  his  parishioners,  if  the  missionary 
differ  in  opinion  from  the  agent,  the  agent  will  have  it  in  his  power  to  misrepre- 
sent the  missionary  and  traduce  him,  through  malice  or  ill  will,  and  perhaps  do 
him  man)-  ill  offices  both  at  home  and  abroad,  especially  if  he  is  deeply  im- 
mersed in  politicks,  and  the  missionary  boggles  at  following  him  through  all 
the  doublings  and  windings  of  State  affairs,  which  is  contrary  to  one  of  the 
orders  of  the  Society  wherein  missionaries  are  obliged  to  live  peaceably  in 
every  Government  they  are  sent  to,  without  intermeddling  in  Secular  affairs. 
If  all  matters  of  meiim  and  teum  were  left  to  the  decision  of  the  temporal 
courts,  Justice  would  be  administered  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  parties. 

The  difficulties  that  the  missionaries  of  Pennsylvania  have  been  reduced 
to  within  this  twelve  months  past,  with  regard  to  politics,  cannot  be  parallel'd 
in  any  other  province  in  America.  The  murder  of  the  Indians,  in  defiance  of 
the  Government  at  Lancaster;  the  Presbyterian  Rebellion  ;  and  the  disputes 
about  taxing  the  proprietary  Estate  ;  caused  the  assembly  to  hand  about  the 
petitions  in  the  country  in  order  to  be  sent  to  the  King  to  be  taken  under  his 


365  [1764. 

immediate  protection.  The  Governor,  with  all  the  Presbyterian  clergy  in  the 
province,  joined  with  the  Church  clergy  in  Town,  sent  about  counter  petitions 
to  be  also  signed  by  the  Inhabitants  to  be  sent  to  His  Majesty  to  tell  him  we 
did  not  want  his  protection — if  we  signed  the  first  we  incurred  the  displeasure 
of  our  superiors  in  Philadelphia ;  if  we  signed  the  second,  we  affronted  such 
of  our  parishioners  as  called  themselves  Loyal  Patriots,  and  run  the  risk  of 
being  charged  with  disloyalty  to  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain.  Under  these 
circumstances  after  mature  deliberation,  we  chose  to  be  neuter — signed 
neither;  encouraged  neither;  but  kept  close  to  the  duties  of  our  missions. 
This  we  thought  the  most  prudent  step,  when  the  Presbyterian  ministers,  with 
some  others,  held  Synods  about  the  election,  turned  their  pulpits  into  Ecclesi- 
astical drums  for  politics  and  told  their  people  to  vote  according  as  they 
directed  them  at  the  peril  of  their  damnation — what  difficulties  might  not  an 
agent,  with  such  unlimited  powers,  lay  us  under  at  such  a  time,  if  he  was  actu- 
ated by  a  spirit  of  party,  or  domination  over  his  Brethren  ? 

For  these  and  many  other  obvious  reasons,  we  think  it  would  be  much 
more  for  the  advantage  of  the  Church  to  have  the  whole  of  the  latter  clause 
of  the  4th  article  dropped,  and  the  agent  confined  to  the  particulars  of  the 
first  clause. 

We  humbly  presume  that  the  power  vested  in  the  agent  to  call  the  clergy 
together  as  often  as  he  sees  fit  (when  many  of  them  would  have  above  one 
hundred  miles  to  travel  at  their  own  expences  and  perhaps  at  such  a  time  of 
the  year  as  would  render  their  attendance  impracticable)  would  be  attended 
with  this  evil  consequence — that  they  must  either  leave  their  families  and 
churches  at  such  seasons  of  the  year  as  might  be  almost  impossible  to  travel 
and  spend  a  great  deal  of  money,  which  few  of  them  have  to  spare,  or  have 
the  business  transacted  by  the  agent  and  a  junta  in  their  absence,  vastly  to 
their  disadvantage.  Every  means  is  made  use  of  to  fill  up  the  Churches  of 
Philadelphia  and  New  York  with  Methodist  preachers.  Philadelphia  is  well 
stored  with  them.  The  Methodists  in  New  York,  upon  the  death  of  Dr.  Bar- 
clay, wrote  for  Mr.  Duche,  either  to  come  himself  or  recommend  a  minister 
to  them  who  was  a  sound  Whitfilian.  Mr.  Duche  sent  them  Mr.  Inglis  from 
Dover,  a  gentleman  who  had  been  approved  of  by  Mr.  Whitefield  in  his  pub- 
lic Sermons,  and  received  vast  applause  from  all  his  followers.  He  was  in- 
stantly chosen  assistant  to  Mr.  Auchmuty,  the  agents  who  (as  it  is  said),  are 
to  reside  in  the  cities  aforesaid,  will  be  surrounded  with  these  men.     Seven  is 


1 764-]  366 

to  make  a  board  according  to  the  plan,  a  majority  of  whom  carries  the  vote. 
It  is  easy  to  get  six  or  seven  Methodists,  Laymen  and  Ministers  in  every  city 
who  will  be  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  give  a  guinea  a  piece  to  have  the 
ruling  of  the  Church  in  North  America. 

A  salary  is  to  be  annexed  to  the  agency,  an  expence  perhaps  that  will  be 
more  than  all  the  money  raised  by  subscriptions  in  America.  The  agent  may 
sit  at  home,  and  call  the  meetings,  and  hold  them  as  long  as  he  pleases,  and 
if  any  of  the  missionaries  dissent  from  his  will  he  may  adjourn  the  meetings 
from  time  to  time  till  the  poor  missionary  has  spent  all  his  money  for  sup- 
porting him  and  his  horse  at  a  Tavern,  &  tired  out  with  defending  his  rights, 
he  gives  up  all  and  goes  home.  Whether  a  triennial  visitation  of  a  common 
clergyman  may  be  of  any  service  to  the  Church,  would  be  worth  the  serious 
consideration  of  the  Society.  Was  a  gentleman  sent  to  us  from  England  who 
would  be  clear  of  all  our  domestic  broils,  clothed  with  the  Episcopal  char- 
acter, who  would  confirm  the  poor  Inhabitants  of  America,  his  character 
would  be  revered,  and  give  weight  to  his  visitation. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

HUGH  NEILL. 


M\   BARTON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Lancaster  in  Pennsylvania,  Novr  16th,  1764. 
Revd  Sir, 

*         *  This  mission  then  takes  in  the  whole  of  Lancaster  county 

(80  miles  in  length  and  26  in  breadth),  part  of  Chester  County  and  part  of 
Berks,  so  that  the  circumference  of  my  stated  mission  only,  is  200  miles.  The 
County  of  Lancaster  contains  upwards  of  40,000  Souls;  of  this  Number  not 
more  than  500  can  be  reckon'd  as  belonging  to  the  Church  of  England;  the 
rest  are  German  Lutherans,  Calvinists,  Mennonists,  Moravians,  New  Born, 
Dunkars,  Presbyterians,  Seceders,  New  Lights,  Covenanters,  Mountain  Men, 
Brownists,  Independents,  Papists,  Quakers,  Jews,  &c.     Amidst  such  a  swarm 


367  [1764. 

of  Sectaries,  all  indulged  and  favored  by  the  Government,  it  is  no  wonder  that 
the  National  Church  should  be  borne  down.  At  the  last  Election  for  the 
county  to  choose  Assemblymen,  Sheriff,  Coroner,  Commissioners,  Assessors, 
&c.,  5000  Freeholders  voted,  and  yet  not  a  single  member  of  the  Church  was 
elected  into  any  of  these  offices.  Notwithstanding  these  and  the  like  dis- 
couragements, I  have  the  satisfaction  to  assure  the  Honble  Society  that  my 
people  have  continued  to  give  proofs  of  that  submission  and  obedience  to 
civil  authority,  which  it  is  the  glory  of  the  Church  of  England  to  inculcate; 
and  whilst  faction  and  party  strife  have  been  rending  the  province  to  pieces, 
they  behaved  themselves  as  became  peaceable  and  dutiful  subjects,  never  in- 
termeddling in  the  least.  Suffer  me  to  add,  Sir,  that  in  the  murder  of  the 
Indians  in  this  place  and  the  different  insurrections  occasioned  by  this  inhuman 
act,  not  one  of  them  was  ever  concerned.  Justice  demands  this  testimony 
from  me  in  their  favour;  as  their  conduct  upon  this  occasion  has  gained  them 
much  credit  and  honour.  Upon  the  whole,  the  Church  of  England  visibly 
gains  ground  throughout  the  province.  The  mildness  and  Excellency  of  her 
Constitution,  her  moderation  and  charity,  even  to  her  Enemies,  and  (I  hope  I 
may  be  indulged  to  say),  the  indefatigable  labours  of  her  Missionaries,  must 
at  length  recommend  her  to  all  except  those  who  have  an  hereditary  preju- 
dice and  aversion  to  her. 

The  German  Lutherans  have  frequently  in  their  ccetus's  proposed  a  union 
with  the  Church  of  England;  and  several  of  their  clergy,  with  whom  I  have 
conversed  are  desirous  of  addressing  his  Grace  My  Lord  Bishop  of  Canter- 
bury, and  My  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  upon  this  subject.  A  large  and  respect- 
able congregation  of  Dutch  Calvinists  in  Philadelphia  have  already  drawn  up 
Constitutions,  by  which  they  oblige  themselves  to  conform  to  the  canons  and 
constitutions  of  the  National  Church,  and  to  use  her  Liturgy  and  forms  and 
none  else,  provided  they  be  approved  of,  and  received  at  home;  and  that  My 
Lord  Bishop  will  grant  ordination  to  such  gentlemen  as  they  shall  present  to 
him. 

The  Germans  in  general  are  well  affected  to  the  Church  of  England,  and 
might  easily  be  brought  over  to  it.  A  Law  obliging  them  to  give  their  Children 
an  English  Education,  which  could  not  be  deemed  an  abridgement  of  their  lib- 
erty (as  British  subjects)  would  soon  have  this  effect. 

The  Presbyterians  are  in  much  disrepute  with  all  the  other  Sects  and  seem 
to  be  at  a  stand.     They  gain  no  accessions  except  from  the  Importations  of 


1 764-]  368 

their  own  Society  from  the  North  of  Ireland,  and  yet  what  is  strange  Numbers 
of  their  young  Men  are  daily  emancipated  by  the  Colleges  of  New  England 
and  the  Jersey  who  are  Licens'd  by  their  Presbyteries,  and  sent  by  scores  into 
the  world  in  search  of  a  Flock.  But  they  are  a  people  who  are  unsteady  and 
much  given  to  change,  fond  of  Novelty,  and  easily  led  away  by  every  kind  of 
Doctrine.  This  disposition  will  ever  be  a  bar  to  their  encrease.  The  Seced- 
ers  are  making  great  Havock  among  them  and  are  proselyting  them  by  thou- 
sands to  their  opinions.  These  last,  however,  are  a  set  of  Men  who  under  a 
Monarchial  Government  1  think  cannot  subsist  long.  Their  interest  upon 
their  own  principles  must  undoubtedly  destroy  itself. 

The  Church  of  England  then  must  certainly  prevail  at  last.  She  has  hith- 
erto stood  her  Ground  amidst  all  the  rage  and  wildness  of  fanaticism  ;  and 
whilst  Methodists  and  New  Lights  have  roamed  over  the  Country,  "  leading 
captive  silly  women"  and  drawing  in  thousands  to  adopt  their  strange  and 
Novel  doctrines  the  Members  of  this  Church  (a  few  in  Philadelphia  excepted) 
have  "held  fast  the  professions  of  their  faith  without  wavering,"  and  if  deprived, 
as  she  is,  of  any  legal  establishment  in  her  favour,  and  remote  from  the  Imme- 
diate Influence  and  direction  of  her  lawful  Governors  the  Bishops,  she  has 
stood  unmoved  and  gained  a  respectable  footing,  what  might  be  expected  if 
these  were  once  to  take  place  ? 

The  Establishment  of  Episcopacy  in  America  has  been  long  talked  of  and 
long  expected ;  and  I  humbly  beg  the  Hon'ble  Society's  pardon  if  I  should 
take  the  liberty  to  observe  that  this  could  never  in  any  former  time  be  intro- 
duced with  more  success  than  at  present.  Many  of  the  principal  Quakers  wish 
for  it  in  hopes  it  might  be  a  check  to  the  growth  of  Presbyterianism, 
which  they  dread,  and  the  Presbyterians,  on  the  other  hand  would  not 
chuse  to  murmur  at  a  time  when  they  are  obliged  to  keep  fair  with 
the  Church  whose  assistance  they  want  against  the  Combinations  of  the 
Quakers  who  would  willingly  crush  them.  I  hope  to  be  indulged  if 
with  all  humility  I  should  further  observe  that  it  is  thought  the  lands  lately 
belonging  to  the  Romish  Clergy  in  Canada,  are  sufficient  to  support  a  Bishop 
in  America,  and  a  number  of  Missionaries  in  the  new  Conquests  without  add- 
ing to  the  burden  of  the  Mother  Country  ;  and  that  His  Majesty  if  properly 
applied  to  would  be  graciously  pleased  to  appropriate  them  to  this  use.  These 
things  perhaps  have  been  already  mentioned  to  and  considered  by  the  Society. 
But  the  Affection  which  I  bear  to  the  Church  of  England  would  not  suffer  me 
to  omit  any  hint  that  I  thought  might  be  an  advantage  to  her. 


369  [1764. 

As  it  will  be  my  highest  ambition  in  life  to  spend  and  be  spent  in  promot- 
ing the  Kingdom  of  Christ,  I  shall  think  it  the  duty  and  Glory  of  my  office 
whenever  a  door  is  opened  to  preach  the  "Glad  tidings  of  Salvation"  to  the 
unenlightened  Heathen  around  me.  But  the  time  for  doing  this  seems  yet  at 
a  distance.  The  Indian  war  still  rages ;  and  the  fierceness  and  barbarity  of 
these  faithless  wretches  at  present  strike  a  dread  and  terror  upon  any  attempts 
of  this  kind.  Colonel  Boquet  is  now  at  the  Head  of  a  large  Body  of  Troops 
in  the  heart  of  their  Country ;  and  it  is  hoped  will  reduce  them  to  such  terms 
as  they  will  not  for  the  future  dare  to  violate.  Whenever  this  is  done,  Mis- 
sionaries may  be  able,  under  the  influence  and  direction  of  Heaven  to  bring 
Numbers  of  these  poor  Infidels  to  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God  and  to  em- 
brace the  Gospel  of  his  Blessed  Son.  Notwithstanding  the  hardships  and  dif- 
ficulties that  must  unavoidably  attend  this  great  work  I  shall  never  refuse  to 
bear  my  part  in  it  when  prudence  and  a  prospect  of  success  shall  invite  to  it. 
I  have  already  a  very  laborious  part  in  the  Vineyard  as  will  appear  from  the 
following  view  of  the  different  Churches  under  my  pastoral  care 

The  town  of  Lancaster  contains  about  600  houses,  and  is  a  very  respect- 
able and  wealthy  place.  It  has  a  large  and  elegant  German  Lutheran  Church, 
a  Calvinist  Church,  a  Moravian  Church,  a  Quaker  Meeting,  Presbyterian 
Meeting,  a  Popish  Chapel,  constantly  supplied  by  Jesuitical  Missionaries, 
besides  the  Church  under  my  care  which  is  a  Stone  Building  with  a  handsome 
Steeple  and  neatly  finished  within.  The  Grave  Yard  is  enclosed  with  a  good 
Stone  wall,  covered  with  Cedar  Shingles.  About  30  families  attend  this 
Church;  the  Presbyterians  and  such  of  the  Germans  as  understand  English 
attend  also  occasionally  when  they  happen  to  have  no  service  of  their  own. 
To  this  Church  belongs  a  parsonage  house,  which  rents  for  ^15  Currency, 
which  is  about  ^8.10  sterling.     My  communicants  here  are  25. 

The  Church  of  Carnarvon  is  20  miles  E.  N.  E.  of  Lancaster,  on  the  verge 
of  Berks  County.  This  is  a  large  Edifice  and  has  a  good  appearance  the 
front  being  built  of  hewn  Stone.  It  is  well  pewed,  and  has  a  side  and  end 
Gallery.  The  Grave  Yard  is  secured  by  a  Stone  Wall  covered  with  poplar 
and  pitched.  The  families  belonging  to  this  Church  are  between  50  and  60, 
all  of  Welch  extraction.  In  the  Summer  Season  people  of  different  denomina- 
tions attend  here  to  make  up  a  Congregation  of  near  500  persons.  This 
Church  has  a  small  Glebe,  bequeathed  to  it  by  a  worthy  Member  deceased, 
which  rents  for  £5  currency.     My  Communicants  here  are  about  40.     Mr. 


1764.]  37° 

Nathan  Evans,  whom  I  mentioned  in  a  former  Letter  to  the  Society  as  a  gen- 
erous Benefactor  to  the  Congregation  of  Carnarvon,  is  since  died.  But  as  he 
left  several  sons  behind  him  in  affluent  circumstances  it  is  hoped  they  will  be 
induced  to  follow  the  example  of  their  worthy  father. 

The  Church  of  Pequea  is  in  Chester  County  18  Miles  E.  and  by  S.  of 
Lancaster.  This  is  likewise  a  Stone  Building,  finished  within  with  neat  pews, 
pulpit  and  desk.  A  Stone  Wall  encloses  the  Grave  Yard,  but  it  is  not  yet  cov- 
ered. The  Congregation  here  consists  of  about  50  families  besides  Numbers 
of  Dissenters  who  constantly  attend.  The  Communicants  are  30.  A  Glebe 
of  100  acres  of  Land  belongs  to  this  Church  which  rents  for  ^10  currency. 

At  these  Churches  I  officiate  Sunday  about  alternately,  and  have  never  to 
my  knowledge  been  absent  once,  even  in  the  severest  weather  except  detained 
by  sickness,  to  which  I  was  always  happy  enough  to  be  a  stranger  till  of  late. 
I  have  baptized  within  this  twelvemonth  115  Infants,  12  White  Adults  and  2 
Black  ones.  Four  or  five  of  these  were  Converts  from  Quakerism.  The  rest 
were  such  whose  parents  had  belonged  to  the  Church,  but  dying  early  they 
neglected  this  Sacrament  till  roused  to  consider  the  great  necessity  of  it.  They 
all  came  to  the  Font  well  prepared,  and  were  able  to  give  a  good  account  of 
their  Faith.  The  Catechetical  Instructions  to  my  young  people  are  never 
omitted  ;  and  here  I  have  the  pleasure  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  Cat- 
echisms sent  for  their  use,  for  which  in  their  name  I  return  many  thanks. 
They  were  very  acceptable,  and  I  am  persuaded  will  be  useful.  They  have  al- 
ready advanced  so  far  into  Lewis's  exposition  as  to  be  able  to  say  one  half  by 
heart.  But  I  am  sorry  to  observe  that  there  were  not  Books  enough  for  the 
number  of  my  Catechumens,  who  encrease  every  day.  I  must  therefore  take 
the  liberty  to  request  50  Copies  more  with  a  few  Prayer  Books  for  the  poorer 
sort.  At  the  same  time  permit  me,  Reverend  Sir,  to  request  for  myself  a  set 
of  Mr.  Berriman's  Sermons,  which  I  have  never  seen  tho'  I  am  told  they  have 
been  sent  over  for  the  use  of  the  Missionaries. 

Besides  these  stated  duties  I  am  often  called  10,  15,  or  20  Miles  to  visit  the 
sick,  bury  the  dead,  &c.,  which  greatly  adds  to  my  fatigue.  My  Itinerancy  also 
bears  heavy  upon  me  in  my  present  state  of  health.  The  Churches  of  New 
London  and  Whiteclay  Creek  demand  a  share  of  my  labours.  I  wish  I  could 
attend  them  oftener  than  I  do.  The  former  is  35  miles  from  me,  and  has 
about  20  families  belonging  to  it.  The  latter  upwards  of  50  miles  &  has  (I 
think),  60  families.     This  Church  was  formerly  an  appendage  to  the  Mission 


37i  [1764. 

of  Newcastle,  but  has  long  been  neglected ;  and  I  would  beg  leave  to  assure 
the  Venerable  Society  that  no  congregation  deserves  more  to  be  taken  care 
of.  They  are  an  orderly,  religious  people.  They  have  a  large  and  conveni- 
ent Church ;  and  are  willing  to  contribute  liberally  towards  the  support  of  a 
Missionary.  From  a  view  of  their  numbers,  and  the  decent,  regular  appear- 
ance they  made  when  I  officiated  among  them,  I  am  induced  to  become  a  pe- 
titioner in  their  behalf.  A  prudent  clergyman  settled  between  these  two 
Churches,  I  have  every  reason  to  believe,  would  soon  make  a  flourishing  and 
valuable  Mission  here.  I  would  therefore  humbly  hope  that  whilst  the  Vener- 
able Society  are  labouring  to  propagate  the  religion  of  Christ  amongst  their 
remote  and  destitute  fellow-creatures,  these  worthy  people  will  be  thought 
worthy  their  notice,  and  in  time  share  in  their  Beneficence. 

I  return  my  most  grateful  acknowledgments  to  the  Society  for  their  kind 
Indulgence  in  giving  me  leave  to  remove  to  another  Mission  for  the  better 
preservation  of  my  health.  I  am  not  only  animated  by  the  countenance  I 
have  always  had  the  honor  to  receive  from  that  great  and  truly  venerable  body 
but  encouraged  and  supported  under  all  my  pastoral  cares — and  it  shall  be 
the  great  endeavor  of  my  life  never  to  prove  unworthy  of  the  notice  they 
have  been  pleased  to  take  of  me,  or  deficient  in  any  of  the  duties  that  can 
reasonably  be  expected  from  me.  But  the  peace  of  my  mind,  and  the  pros- 
pect of  doing  good,  being  dearer  to  me  than  any  other  consideration,  I  should 
chuse  to  continue  with  a  people  whom  I  love  and  value,  had  I  any  prospect 
of  supporting  my  family.  My  ambition  aspires  at  nothing  more  than  what 
will  purchase  me  a  freedom  from  want — from  low  and  abject  dependance. 
Even  this  cannot  be  obtained  here.  I  am  obliged  to  live  in  a  place  where 
every  necessary  of  life  must  be  purchased  at  a  most  extravagant  rate.  I  have 
1 1  in  family,  a  wife,  7  children  and  2  servants,  which,  with  all  the  economy 
and  frugality  I  can  make  use  of,  cannot  be  maintained  under  ^150  sterling 
per  annum.  And  I  do  assure  the  Honble  Society  I  seldom  receive  above 
^100  including  their  own  generous  allowance.  It  is  the  misfortune  of  a  Mis- 
sionary that,  let  his  behaviour  be  what  it  will,  or  let  his  people  entertain  ever 
so  good  an  opinion  of  him,  to  their  country  he  stands  for  a  maintenance,  and 
very  few  will  be  found  generous  to  tax  themselves  for  this  purpose.  As  to 
the  fees  which  Missionaries  might  receive  by  marriages,  these  generally  fall 
into  the  hands  of  Magistrates,  and  Separatist  Teachers.  In  this  affair  we  are 
much  abused,  and  have  great  cause  of  complaint.      There  is  in  this  Town  a 


I 765-]  372 

German  Surgeon,  who  had  formerly  been  a  Calvinist  preacher,  but  for  some 
ill  conduct  was  suspended  and  disgraced.  This  man  (I  am  well  assured)( 
marries  about  300  couple  in  a  year,  which  must  be  worth  ^150  per  annum  to 
him.  He  has  no  cure  of  souls,  and  is  a  person  of  bad  principles.  He  often 
marries  people  belonging  to  my  Churches,  which  creates  much  uneasiness,  as 
the  validity  of  such  marriages  are  often  disputed.  If  it  should  be  asked  why 
this  man  should  have  the  preference  given  to  him  before  the  regular  clergy- 
man, I  answer — No  licence  or  publication  is  by  him  thought  necessary ;  no 
questions  are  asked  ;  and  no  examination  entered  into,  to  know  whether  the 
consent  of  parents  be  obtained,  &c,  and  besides  this,  they  are  sure  to  have  it 
kept  a  secret  as  long  as  they  please.  Tho'  this  person  has  been  long  look'd 
upon  as  a  publick  nuisance,  yet  he  has  been  suffered  to  go  on.  I  beg  to  be 
informed  by  the  Honorable  Society  what  measures  I  ought  to  pursue  under 
this  grievance  to  obtain  redress. 

Whether  a  removal  to  another  mission  would  be  of  any  advantage  to  me 
I  know  not.  I  make  no  doubt  but  in  most  of  them  I  should  find  it  difficult  to 
support  such  a  family  as  mine  and  to  educate  my  children.  I  shall  ever 
esteem  it  my  highest  honour  that  I  have  been  employed  in  the  Society's 
service,  but  if  the  prospect  of  Indigence  should  at  any  time  compel  me  to 
retire,  I  would  humbly  hope  that  their  protection  and  countenance  will  be 
continued  to  me. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

THOs  BARTON. 


M\  STURGEON  and  M\  HUGHES  to  the  Secretary. 


Philadelphia,  Mar.  23d,  1765. 
Revd  Sir, 

It  is  with  the  greatest  deference  that  we  beg  leave  thro'  your  influence 
and  assistance  to  inform  the  Honorable  Society  that,  for  many  years  past,  we 
have  with  no  small  uneasiness  of  mind  observed  how  much  the  several  mis- 
sions in  Pennsylvania  and  the  western  division  of  New  Jersey    (or,  at  least, 


373  [1765. 

many  of  them),  are  pinched  for  want  of  a  competent  revenue  or  support  for 
the  several  clergymen  that  fill  them,  and  as  it  is  expected  that  a  clergyman  of 
the  Church  of  England  should  make  a  decent,  reputable  appearance,  and  not- 
withstanding the  diligence  and  good  economy  of  many  of  these  Missionaries, 
yet  such  is  the  narrowness  of  their  present  income,  that  they  are  but  barely 
able  to  support  their  families,  and  if  death  chances  to  take  away  the  husband, 
the  poor  widow  and  helpless  Orphans,  are  left  destitute  of  the  common 
necessaries  of  life. 

Moved  with  the  consideration  of  such  distressing  circumstances  and  ex- 
tremely sensible  at  the  same  time  of  the  extensively  pious  and  charitable  de- 
sign of  the  Honorable  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel,  and  being  desirous 
to  throw  in  our  mite  to  the  aid  and  assistance  of  so  useful  an  Institution,  we 
beg  leave  to  inform  the  Society  that  we  have,  with  pleasure,  conceived  that 
the  following  information,  if  properly  perused,  may  in  a  few  years  add  to  the 
Society's  annual  income  a  very  considerable  sum  which  may  be  rendered  per- 
petual, and  we  think  it  the  best  method  that  can  be  pursued  in  such  a  case. 

Give  us  leave  to  say  that  upon  considering  that  the  province  of  Pennsylva- 
nia is  bounded  to  the  Eastward  by  the  River  Delaware,  and  that  New  Jersey 
is  bounded  to  the  Southward  with  the  Ocean,  and  to  the  westward  by  Dela- 
ware aforesaid,  whereby  there  remains  yet  undisposed  of  by  the  Crown,  sev- 
eral Islands  along  the  Seashore,  and  many  others  within  the  River  Delaware 
as  far  as  that  River  is  the  boundary  of  the  Two  provinces,  which  we  conceive 
to  be  not  much  short  of  300  miles,  and  as  the  boundaries  of  the  two  provin- 
ces, are  as  aforesaid,  these  Islands  are  not  the  property,  nor  yet  subject  to  the 
Laws  of  either  province,  but  in  many  cases  are  assylums  for  dishonest  men  to 
screen  themselves  from  paying  their  just  debts. 

It  is  also  true  that  several  of  them  are  settled  by  people  of  both  provinces 
under  different  pretences  or  claims,  but  it  is  as  true  that  most  of  them  have 
no  legal  right  by  any  means,  but  at  the  same  time  there  are  some  few  for 
which  there  is  the  Duke  of  York's  patents; — this  we  conceive  to  be  at  least 
an  equitable  title. 

We  would  further  beg  leave  to  observe  that  there  is  in  the  three  lower 
counties,  or  territories  of  Pennsylvania,  several  manors  or  tracts  of  land  prop- 
erly located  for  the  Duke  of  York,  the  property  of  which  we  conceive  at  this 
time  vested  in  His  Majesty,  and  we  also  believe  that  some  other  tracts  of 
lands  are  located  in  Pennsylvania  and  elsewhere,  for  the  use  of  the  Duke  of 


i 765-]  374 

York,  which  must  also  at  this  time  be  vested  in  the  Crown.  We  therefore 
beg  leave  to  say  that  we  are  humbly  of  opinion  that  if  so  august  and  respect- 
able a  body  as  the  Honourable  Society  were  to  apply  to  His  Majesty  for  the 
donation  or  grant  of  those  Islands  as  aforesaid,  and  also  all  such  manors  or 
Tracts  of  Lands  as  have  been  heretofore  located  by  actual  survey  in  any  part 
of  North  America  for  the  use  of  the  late  Duke  of  York,  we  cannot  in  the 
least  doubt  but  what  His  most  Gracious  Majesty  would  for  the  pious  intent  of 
propagating  the  Gospel  be  graciously  pleased  to  make  such  a  grant  and  at 
the  same  time  render  those  Islands  subject  to  the  Laws  and  Government  of 
New  Jersey. 

It  is  with  the  greatest  pleasure  that  we  embrace  this  opportunity  to  inform 
the  Honourable  Society,  that  the  assembly  of  Pennsylvania,  have  on  the  appli- 
cation of  the  wardens  and  vestry  of  the  United  Churches  of  Christ  and  St. 
Peter's,  &c.,  passed  an  act  for  raising  by  way  of  Lottery  ^3000  for  building 
and  repairing  Churches  in  different  parts  of  the  province  where  wanted. 

And  it  is  with  no  small  concern  we  behold  the  thinness  of  Churches  in  this 
part  of  the  world,  for  in  so  great  an  extent  of  country  as  from  Burlington  to 
the  Capes,  which  is  150  miles,  there  is  no  mission,  and  from  the  Capes  to  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Cook's  mission,  is  near  the  same  distance,  and  not  one  mission 
in  all  that  extent  of  country. 

Under  these  circumstances  great  advantages  are  given  to  dissenting 
preachers  and  Romish  priests,  to  seduce  the  people  and  add  to  their  own 
numbers,  already  but  too  great. 

Wherefore  to  remedy  these  growing  evils  as  far  as  in  us  lies,  we  have 
taken  the  freedom  to  trouble  you  with  these  lines  and  do  assure  the  Honour- 
able Society  that  we  have  reasons  to  believe  that  there  are  some  persons,  at 
this  time  taking  measures  for  obtaining  a  grant  of  those  Islands  for  their  pri- 
vate use  so  that  it  may  not  be  amiss,  to  be  early  in  the  application. 

If  we  may  be  so  far  indulged,  we  would  further  observe,  that  it  gives  us 
great  concern  to  see  some  restless,  ambitious  spirits  dabbling  in  politicks  and 
religion  at  the  same  time  and  thereby  endeavoring  to  cover  under  the  last,  the 
low  dirty  party  views  of  the  first,  to  the  very  great  scandal  of  the  Church,  but 
we  forbear  this  most  disagreeable  theme. 

And  most  humbly  beg  leave  to  add  that  if  these  Grants  can  be  obtained 
we  offer  our  best  and  most  vigilant  aid  and  assistance  in  getting  possession  of 
those  Islands  &  shall  freely  take  every  measure  in  our  power  to  get  them  sur- 


375  [I765- 

veyed,  settled  and  improved,  so  as  to  produce  an  annual  income  that  will  be 
of  great  use  to  the  churches  here  and  at  the  same  time,  we  offer  our  services 
in  discovering  the  several  tracts  of  land  surveyed  and  returned  for  the  late 
Duke  of  York,  most  of  which  are  at  this  time  entirely  waste,  and  we  have  not 
the  least  doubt  but  we  can  manage  these  matters  so  as  to  nett  the  Honour- 
able Society  a  very  handsome  income  in  a  few  years,  if  they  succeed  in  ob- 
taining the  Grant. 

The  motives  that  have  induced  us  so  far  to  trouble  you  and  the  Honour- 
able Society  we  hope  will  plead  our  excuse,  and  therefore  we  very  sincerely 
wish  the  grant  may  be  obtained  and  do  most  heartily  pray  for  the  propagation 
of  the  Gospel  in  this  part  of  the  world. 

We  are,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

WM  Sturgeon, 
JoN  Hughes. 

P.  S. — If  these  Hints  should  meet  with  the  approbation  of  the  Honourable 
Society  we  have  some  other  propositions  to  make  from  which  we  expect 
considerable  advantages  to  the  Society's  pious  undertaking,  for  as  we  are 
Americans  it  may  not  perhaps  be  immodest  to  presume  that  we  are  better 
acquainted  with  some  advantages  that  may  be  had  in  this  great  new  world 
than  Gentlemen  in  Great  Britain  with  ten  times  our  abilities  who  are  alto- 
gether unacquainted  with  every  part  of  the  country  and  the  particular  modes 
of  settlement  and  the  advantages  that  can  be  made  by  small  grants  of  lands, 
and  if  we  are  fortunate  enough  to  be  the  instruments  of  increasing  the  Church 
of  England  in  North  America,  happy  indeed  shall  we  think  ourselves,  for 
altho'  we  would  be  understood  to  have  charity  for  Dissenters  in  general  yet 
we  must  confess  that  it  gives  us  great  concern  to  see  in  many  parts  of  these 
two  flourishing  provinces  at  least  five  Presbyterian  meeting-houses  to  one 
Church,  and  from  the  ambitious  and  restless  disposition  of  that  Society  in  this 
province  no  pleasing  prospect  appears  and  especially  from  some  late  Riots 
and  extraordinary  proceedings  of  that  sect  much  is  to  be  feared. 

N.  B.  We  would  further  beg  leave  to  say,  That  it  is  His  Majesty's  real 
interest  to  make  the  Grants  aforesaid  for  by  that  means  not  only  the  Islands 
but  more  tracts  of  land  that  are  now  waste  would  be  settled  and  improved 
and  his  subjects  increased  and  wealth  added  to  the  provinces. 


I765-]  376 

M\    THOMSON  to   the   Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Carlisle,  25th  March,  1765. 


Revd  Sir, 


impowered  to  raise  the  sum  of  Three  thousand  pounds  by  way  of  Lottery — 
Two  hundred  pounds  of  which  is  to  be  applied  in  finishing  our  Church  in  this 
place — Sixty  pounds  for  finishing  our  church  at  Huntingdon — Three  hundred 
and  fifteen  pounds  for  Building  a  church  in  the  Town  of  York,  and  the 
remainder  to  be  applied  for  the  use  of  the  Churches  in  the  interior  parts  of 
the  province  that  stand  in  most  need  of  assistance. 

Upon  the  20th  of  February  last  I  Baptized  a  family,  3  in  number,  who  were 
brought  up  Quakers.  Several  of  these  people  give  regular  attendance  at  my 
Churches  and  seem  wavering  in  their  sentiments  of  Religion. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

WM  THOMSON. 


M\  STURGEON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Phila,  March  25th,  1765. 
Revd  Doctor, 

Together  with  this  is  inclosed  to  you  a  Letter  to  the  Honorable  Society 
signed  by  Mr.  Hughes  and  myself,  to  acquaint  that  Board  with  an  account  of 
several  Islands  on  the  Sea  Coasts  of  New  Jersey  and  in  the  River  Delaware, 
and  some  Land  in  the  Lower  Counties  which  the  Crown  never  disposed  of, 
and  therefore  as  yet  vacant.  Knowing  how  much  that  Society  are  taken  up 
with  planting  the  Church  of  England  in  this  part  of  the  British  Empire  and  the 
great  expence  the  undertaking  must  occasion,  we  made  free  to  inform  them 


377  [1765. 

of  this  as  what  might  in  time  become  a  considerable  fund,  and  greatly  lessen 
the  contributions  of  the  Mother  country.  Why  this  has  not  been  laid  before 
the  Society  long  ago  I  cannot  assign  a  reason  ;  but  why  there  are  no  more 
Signers  with  us  I  can  give  a  good  one,  viz.:  Lands  are  become  valuable  here 
and  every  person  is  endeavoring  to  seize  the  opportunity  to  secure  property, 
and  even  in  this  case,  several  people  are  making  application  to  the  Throne  for 
a  Grant  to  their  own  families  of  the  Islands  and  thus  oblige  us  to  be  very 
secret,  and  even  the  Society  may  have  misrepresentations  of  it  from  some 
people  now  in  England  made  by  self  interest  or  their  obligation  to  the  Penn 
family. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

WM  STURGEON. 


M\  CURRIE  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Radnor,  March  30th,  1765. 
Revd  Sir, 

The  Society's  letter  to  the  Vestrys  of  Radnor,  &c,  I  laid 
before  them  which  they  have  still  under  consideration.  The  congregation  of 
Perqa  is  willing  to  comply  with  it,  but  that  of  Radnor  is  not,  alledging  that  as 
that  Glebe  is  not  situated  convenient  to  them  they  cannot  think  of  laying  out 
their  money  upon  it,  but  would  rather  in  conjunction  with  the  congregation  of 
Sl.  Peter's  purchase  a  small  Glebe  betwixt  these  two  churches,  but  as  I  am 
satisfied  they  are  not  of  ability,  the  price  of  land  being  exceedingly  high,  I 
have  thoughts  of  living  on  the  Glebe  at  Perqua,  towards  the  repairing  of  which 
&  rebuilding  the  Glebe  house,  I  have  subscribed  ^14  of  this  currency,  which 
is  £9  sterling  unless  the  other  two  churches  will  either  purchase  or  hire  a 
house  for  me. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 
<8  WM  CURRIE. 


1 765-]  378 

M'\  SMITH  &  Others  to  the  Secretary. 


Elizabeth  Town,  Jan'y  11th,  1765. 
Revd  Sir, 

At  a  convention  of  the  clergy  of  this  province  and  some  of  their  Breth- 
ren from  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  held  at  Perth  Amboy  in  Sepf  last, 
among  other  things  the  case  of  Mr.  Morton  (agreeable  to  the  Society's  pleas- 
ure formerly  signified),  came  under  their  consideration  and  they  would  at  that 
time  have  presented  the  Venerable  Society  with  the  unexpected  termination 
of  that  affair  as  it  had  been  laid  before  them — but  in  the  course  of  the  enquiry 
certain  evidence  of  a  very  material  nature,  being  then  inattainable,  a  full 
account  was  deferred  till  that  could  be  procured.  Of  this  the  Honorable 
Society  was  informed  by  our  general  Letter,  and  that  a  Committee  was 
appointed  to  finish  this  business,  and  report  the  Issue  of  the  whole  matter. 

From  the  evidence  and  vouchers  produced  at  the  late  Convention  it 
appeared  that  the  prosecution  against  Mr.  Morton  had  been  withdrawn  by  his 
adversary  who  had  also  given  him  a  full  and  final  Release  and  that  the  only 
motive  influencing  the  plaintiff  to  this  conduct,  mentioned  in  the  papers  respect- 
ing this  settlement,  was  a  scruple  of  conscience  restraining  him  from  an  inju- 
rious act.  But  it  being  moved  that  a  report  had  prevailed  of  Mr.  Garrison's 
declaring  that  he  had  received  from  one  Charles  Steuart,  Esqre,  a  sum  of 
money  for  compromising  this  dispute,  the  Convention  upon  the  whole  came  to 
the  following  Resolution  :  That  if  Mr.  Morton  could  make  it  appear  to  their 
satisfaction  that  the  said  Charles  Steuart,  Esqre,  did  not  give  any  money  with 
the  consent  or  privity  directly  or  indirectly  of  the  said  Mr.  Morton,  it  is  the 
unanimous  opinion  of  this  Convention  Mr.  Morton  stands  fairly  acquitted  of 
the  charges  brought  against  him  in  all  its  parts. 

That  this  matter  might  be  determined  as  early  as  possible — we  the  subscrib- 
ers were  appointed  a  Committee  by  our  Brethren  as  signified  in  the  above- 
mentioned  general  letter.  For  this  purpose,  Sir,  we  had  a  meeting  at 
Trenton,  where  we  were  attended  by  Mr.  Steuart  and  have  now  the  Honor, 
through  you,  of  acquainting  the  Venerable  Society  with  the  result  of  our 
enquiries. 

Mr.  Steuart  being  solemnly  interrogated  returned  us  the  following  answers, 
viz.: 


379  [1765. 

I.  "That  the  desire  of  an  accommodation  arose  from  Mr.  Garrison,  who 
solicited  him  to  effect  a  meeting  between  him  and  Mr.  Morton; — that  he  at 
first  declined  intermeddling,  but  on  Mr.  Garrison's  repeated  solicitations  and 
declarations  of  his  uneasiness,  and  desire  of  having  the  affair  settled,  he  un- 
dertook to  speak  to  Mr.  Morton,  and  accordingly  proposed  a  meeting,  which 
Mr.  Morton,  suspecting  (as  he  said)  some  evil  design,  refused,  but  on  his  urg- 
ing his  opinion  of  Mr.  Garrison's  sincerity  in  the  overture  Mr.  Morton  agreed 
to  meet,  but  not  without  the  presence  of  witnesses. 

2nd.  "That  he  did  not  give  Mr.  Garrison  any  money  to  procure  the  said 
accommodation  with  the  consent  and  privity  of  Mr.  Morton,  directly  or  indi- 
rectly, but  so  far  from  it  that  Mr.  Morton  declared  to  him  both  before  and  on 
the  day  they  met,  that  if  Mr.  Garrison  would  not  voluntarily,  honorably  and 
without  the  least  overture  from  him  release  all  matters  of  accusation  whatever 
he  would  not  agree  to  any  accommodation,  nor  enter  on  that  subject  with  him. 

3.  "That  at  the  meeting.  Mr.  Garrison  readily  and  freely  offered  and  gave 
Mr.  Morton  a  full  release  of  all  actions  and  causes  of  action  either  in  respect 
of  himself  or  daughter;  but  that  after  the  matter  was  thus  concluded  and  not 
before,  upon  Mr.  Garrison's  privately  urging  and  bewailing  his  distressed  cir- 
cumstances, the  necessity  he  was  under  of  immediately  paying  costs,  and  his 
inability  thereunto,  and  otherwise  bespeaking  his  pity,  he  did  from  a  disinter- 
ested, generous  and  charitable  view,  and  from  a  regard  to  Religion  and  the 
peace  of  his  neighbourhood  promise  and  afterwards  pay  him  a  sum  of  money 
to  assist  him  in  his  difficulties,  and  prevent  any  subsequent  complaints,  and 
that  this  was  all  done  without  the  consent  or  privity  of  Mr.  Morton  either 
directly  or  indirectly. 

4.  "  That  he  had  never  received  any  reimbursement  of  the  said  money  from 
Mr.  Morton  or  from  any  person  on  his  account  nor  did  expect  or  claim  any 
such  reimbursement. 

5.  "And  lastly  that  he  believes  Mr.  Morton  knew  nothing  of  this  transac- 
tion of  his  with  Garrison,  till  about  ten  or  twelve  days  after  the  Meeting;  that 
Mr.  Morton  and  Mr.  Grandin  came  to  him  in  apparent  uneasiness  and  dis- 
turbance and  informed  him  of  a  Report  prevailing  of  his  having  given  Mr.  Gar- 
rison a  sum  of  money  to  effect  the  accommodation  and  desired  to  know 
whether  he  had  given  any  money,  at  which  time  he  related  the  circumstances 
of  that  matter,  as  he  before  declared,  at  which  Mr.  Morton  expressed  great 
uneasiness  and  disapproved  of  what  he  had  done,  as  it  might  be  construed  to 


1 765-]  380 

his  disadvantage.  Mr.  Steuart  concluded  by  adding  that  he  should  never  have 
mentioned  this  transaction  had  not  Mr.  Garrison  been  influenced  by  some  evil 
minded  people  to  report  the  affair  in  an  injurious  and  unjust  light." 

These  declarations  of  Mr.  Steuart  were  taken  from  his  own  mouth,  and 
were  in  due  form  of  question  and  answer  by  us  reduced  to  writing  in  proper 
minutes,  and  were  afterwards  repeatedly  read  and  assented  to  before  us  by 
Mr.  Steuart,  in  testimony  of  which  we  subscribed  our  names  to  the  said  min- 
utes and  from  those  minutes  the  foregoing  account  is  almost  literally  extracted, 
as  conveying  the  fullest  and  most  perfect  view  of  this  particular. 

A  copy  of  the  release  and  a  Letter  to  the  Attorney  General,  both  which  we 
know  to  be  genuine,  we  herewith  enclose  as  likewise  a  determination  of  Mr. 
Morton's  Churchwardens  and  Vestry,  after  a  particular  scrutiny  into  the  many 
scandalous  reports  propagated  by  Bad  people  concerning  the  accommodation. 
Thus,  Sir,  have  we  faithfully  laid  before  you  the  evidence  offered  to  us  on 
this  very  disagreeable  subject.  The  Honorable  Society  will  determine  as  it 
appears  to  them  with  their  usual  candour  and  uprightness.  We  cannot  con- 
clude, however,  without  observing,  that  as  we  have  it  in  our  power  with  full 
confidence  to  say,  that  from  all  accounts  Mr.  Morton's  behaviour  in  every 
other  respect  and  circumstance  still  continues  unblemished  and  that  he  is  yet 
diligently  and  usefully  employed  in  the  duties  of  his  mission,  we  cannot  there- 
fore but  be  greatly  pleased  at  this  termination  of  his  late  misfortunes. 

But  we  would  with  submission  add  that  we  are  of  opinion  that  though  he 
may  be  in  some  measure  usefully  employed  where  he  is  yet  we  apprehend  not 
so  extensively  as  he  might  otherwise  have  been,  or  as  he  may  be  in  some 
other  place,  besides  that  we  apprehend  he  cannot  be  so  happy  among  his  ene- 
mies as  if  removed  somewhere  out  of  their  reach. 

This  with  everything  herein  offered  we  humbly  submit  to  the  paternal 
regard  of  the  Honorable,  able  and  Venerable  Society,  and  are  with  a  due  sense 
of  their  goodness  to  us,  and  of  the  trust  reposed  in  us, 

Revd  Sir, 

Their  &  your  most  obed1  Servts, 

William  Smith, 
Colin  Campbell, 
Saml  Cooke, 
Robt  McKean, 
Leod  Cutting. 


38i  [1765. 

Mr.  SMITH  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  May  8th,  1765. 
Dear  &  Worthy  Sir, 

I  am  not  clear  in  one  expression  in  our  joint  letter, 
which  says  that  the  convention  at  Amboy  judged  that  if  this  enquiry  to  be 
made  of  Mr.  Stuart  should  terminate  in  Mr.  Morton's  favor,  "  he  stood  fairly 
acquitted  of  the  charge  brought  against  him  in  all  its  parts."  Tho'  I  presided 
at  the  Convention,  and  attended  close  to  everything  before  us,  I  do  not  re- 
member any  conditional  or  other  decision  to  have  been  made.  Tho'  we  thought 
Mr.  Morton  legally  acquitted,  yet  it  was  too  general  an  opinion  among  us 
founded  on  good  grounds,  that  he  had  by  imprudences  in  his  behaviour  to  the 
Girl  (tho*  I  really  believe  not  of  a  criminal  nature),  given  advantages  against 
himself,  and  therefore  we  all  wished  that  he  might  be  removed  to  a  distant  place 
where  he  might  not  lie  under  these  or  any  other  imputations  to  hurt  his  use- 
fulness. But  as  Mr.  McKean  drew  the  committee's  Letter  with  all  the  min- 
utes before  him,  he  knew  best  what  was  in  them,  and  I  may  have  forgot  par- 
ticular words ;  and  therefore  made  no  scruple  to  sign  my  name. 

Mr.  Whitfield  is  here,  but  will  receive  no  invitation  from  us  to  preach  in 
our  Churches,  being  determined  to  observe  the  same  conduct  as  when  he  was 
here  in  October  last,  which  our  superiors  in  England  have  approved. 

He  has  turned  his  Georgia  Hospital  into  a  College  and  is  to  solicit  a  Royal 
Charter  and  Grant  of  Lands  for  it,  If  a  proper  security  is  made  for  a  Church 
of  England  Head  of  his  College.  However  Catholic  and  wide  his  scheme 
may  be  otherwise,  it  may  be  of  service  to  grant  his  request,  But  if  he  intends 
it  otherwise  as  a  nursery  of  his  own  particular  Tenets,  which  tend  to  hurt  or- 
der and  a  regular  ministration  of  the  Gospel,  I  should  be  sorry  ever  to  see  it 
established.  He  declares  this  is  far  from  his  intention.  I  shall  have  some 
conversation  with  him  on  this  Head  and  shall  write  to  the  Archbishop. 

I  am,  Worthy  Sir,  &c., 

W.  SMITH. 


1 765-]  382 

M\  NEILL  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Oxford,  June  25th,  1765. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  see  my  Churches  continue  in  unity  and  Brotherly 
affection  and  that  they  appear  to  be  upon  the  encreasing  order,  notwithstand- 
ing the  various  attempts  that  have  been  made  to  divide  us.  I  use  all  the 
means  in  my  power  to  make  the  children  of  my  hearers  better  acquainted 
with  the  principles  of  the  Christian  Religion,  as  taught  in  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, than  their  fathers,  Numbers  of  whom  think  there  is  no  difference  be- 
tween us  and  the  Dissenters  that  are  Protestants,  of  any  denomination. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

HUGH  NEILL. 


M\   READING  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Apoquiniminck,  June  25th,  1765. 
Revd  Worthy  Sir, 

In  my  letter  of  October  last  I  took  occasion  to  mention 
the  encrease  of  the  congregation  under  my  pastoral  care,  and  the  apparent 
necessity  there  was  of  either  enlarging  or  rebuilding  our  Church  that  it  might 
be  capable  of  containing  the  people  professing  themselves  of  our  communion. 
I  have  now  the  happiness  to  acquaint  the  Venerable  Society  that  I  have  good 
hopes  of  seeing  an  effectual  remedy  speedily  applied  to  the  above  mentioned 
inconvenience.  A  family  of  considerable  interest  in  these  parts  have  en- 
gaged to  grant  a  commodious  lot  of  ground  sufficient  for  erecting  a  large 
Church  and  for  a  burying  place  adjoining  to  it.  This  scite  of  land  will  shortly 
be  conveyed  in  trust  for  the  use  of  the    Episcopal  congregation  at  Apoquini- 


3%3  [1765. 

minck.  A  gentleman  of  fortune  and  of  great  influence  among  the  people 
has  assured  me  that  he  will  himself  undertake  and  superintend  the  building 
of  the  new  Church.  Upwards  of  Five  hundred  pounds  were  subscribed  to 
the  undertaking  within  a  few  days,  and  this  subscription  will  I  expect  be  con- 
siderably increased. 

I  am,  Revd  Worthy  Sir,  &c., 

PHILIP  READING. 


AT.  MURRAY  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Reading,  25th  June,  1765. 
Revd  Sir, 

Since  24th  January,  1 764,  that  my  last  Notitia  parochialis  was  sent  home, 
I  baptized  39  children  and  three  grown  persons  besides  an  Attorney  at  Law 
here  with  his  children  who  were  bred  among  the  Baptists  and  Quakers.  This 
Gentleman,  with  the  other  Attorney  I  christened  the  year  before,  are  among 
the  fastest  and  ablest  friends  our  Church  has  here. 

No  communicants  have  offered  since  and  I'm  afraid  will  not  till  some  de- 
cent places  of  public  worship  are  prepared.  With  the  last  communicants  I 
retired  into  a  private  room.  We  have  presently  the  use  of  the  Court  house 
to  assemble  in  for  Divine  service,  and  it  is  common  to  all  the  Sectaries  that 
may  occasionally  convene  there  for  the  like  purpose. 

My  congregation  here  at  Reading  is  now  increased  from  seven  families 
at  first,  to  22.  The  other  in  the  country  at  Molatton  has  neither  diminished 
nor  increased  much  since  the  commencement  of  the  Mission  and  consists  pres- 
ently of  30  families,  and  in  both  places  including  the  single  persons  residing 
in  other  families  amount  to  the  number  of  Three  hundred  and  thirty-one, 
young  and  old. 

The  Baptists  whom  I  mentioned  in  my  last  letter  were,  soon  after  I  offici- 
ated in  their  Meeting,  supplied  by  their  former  preacher,  who  thought  it  ad- 
visable to  return  to  them,  when  he  saw  them  generally  disposed  to  conform 


1765]  384 

to  our  Church,  whose  service  I  punctually  observed  at  the  different  times  they 
invited  me.  Some  of  them  come  to  church  here  now  and  then  ever  since. 
As  their  preacher  is  an  old  Man,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  all  the  younger 
people  among  will  unite  very  readily  with  us  upon  his  death  or  removal 
again. 

The  Popish  congregation  here  are  served  by  a  Jesuit  priest  once  a  month, 
and,  it  appears,  are  a  considerable  body  from  the  Number  of  Communicants 
among  them  on  Trinity  Sunday  last  who  are  said  to  have  exceeded  200. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

ALEXR  MURRAY. 


To  the  Venerable  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 

Foreign  Parts. 


The  petition  of  Churchwardens  and  Ves- 
try of  the  Episcopal  congregation  at 
Reading  in  the  County  of  Berks  and 
province  of  Pennsylvania, 

Most  humbly  Sheweth, 

That  your  petitioners  do  with  the  sincerest  gratitude  acknowledge  the  im- 
portant favor  shewed  them  in  opening  a  mission  for  the  relief  of  their  spirit- 
ual wants  in  this  frontier  part  of  His  Majesty's  Colonies,  and  in  return,  are 
disposed  to  do  everything  incumbent  on  them  to  settle  it  on  a  respectable 
and  lasting  foundation,  to  the  best  of  their  abilities.  With  this  view  your  pe- 
titioners lately  addressed  the  General  Assembly  of  this  province  for  the  bene- 
fit of  a  Lottery  to  assist  them  in  Building  an  Episcopal  Church  in  the  County 
Town  of  Reading  and  accordingly  an  Act  was  readily  passed  granting  them, 
(among  others),  Three  hundred  and  fifteen  pounds  for  that  pious  and  com- 
mendable purpose.  To  this  sum  your  petitioners  have  bound  themselves  to 
add  Two  hundred  pounds. 

We  have  good  reason  to  expect,  that  when  our  Church  is  finished  many 


385  [1765. 

more  will  associate  with  us  and  enable  us  soon  after  to  purchase  a  Glebe  and 
parsonage  house. 

And  we  hope  from  the  growth  of  our  Congregation  to  raise  our  Minister's 
Salary  by  renting  the  pews  to  more  than  the  amount  of  what  we  have  at  this 
time  concluded  upon  which  tho'  much  under  what  we  could  wish  is  in  our 
present  situation  as  much  as  we  can  Grant. 

We  are  conscious  that  we  have  done  and  are  still  ready  to  do  as  much  for 
the  support  of  our  Mission  as  any  people  in  like  circumstances  perhaps  in 
America.  And  while  we  are  in  a  fair  way  of  increasing  more  and  more  and 
are  struggling  in  our  infancy  to  provide  a  decent  place  of  public  worship  and 
a  better  maintenance  for  our  pastors  in  time  coming,  we  would  wish  that  the 
Society  could  generously  enough  come  in  to  aid  our  cheerful  tho'  weak  en- 
deavors and  grant  the  present  incumbent  on  their  part  Fifty  pounds  sterling 
of  annual  Salary,  which  considering  the  Labors  of  this  extensive  Mission  and 
the  growing  expences  of  Living,  is  with  all  we  can  yet  contribute  but  mod- 
erate encouragement  for  a  Clergyman  in  it  and  a  narrow  subsistance  for  a 
family. 

Reading  as  it  is  confessedly  the  second  Inland  town  in  America  and  but 
of  thirteen  years  standing  has  the  most  promising  appearance  of  soon  becom- 
ing the  first,  as  the  River  Schuylkill,  on  whose  Banks  it  is  pleasantly  and  com- 
modiously  situated  is  in  a  great  part  already  cleared  for  Navigation  and  trade 
to  as  far  as  the  flourishing  metropolis  of  Philadelphia. 

And  as  it  adds  to  its  Honor  and  happiness  that  it  has  so  early  attracted 
the  affectionate  notice  of  the  Most  Venerable  Society,  your  petitioners  hope 
by  their  conduct  on  all  occasions  to  shew  themselves  worthy  of  the  continu- 
ance of  their  countenance  &  patronage. 

To  know  the  success  of  our  humble  petition  would  not  a  little  contribute 
to  forward  our  present  public  undertakings  and  which  we  are  confident  will 
be  totally  marred  in  the  event  of  our  worthy  Missionary's  removing  before 
they  are  finished,  which  it  is  evident  he  will  be  reduced  to  the  necessity  of 
doing  under  the  present  circumstances.  But  this  we  would  fain  hope  the  So- 
ciety in  their  abundant  care  and  goodness,  will  timeously  prevent  by  comply- 
ing at  this  critical  juncture  if  possible  with  our  so  necessary  and  earnest 
request,  which  with  all  due  deference  we  submit  to  your  most  serious  consid- 
eration. 


1 765.]  386 

And  your  petitioners  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray,  &c, 

James  Dimes.  }  ^,       .         , 
•L    _  >  Churchwardens. 

fc..  diddle,       j 

John  Patton,       "^ 

F.  Price,  V  Vestrymen. 

Jas  Whitehead,  J 

Reading,  June  12th,  1765. 


Mr.  READING  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Apoquiniminck,  Sept.  14th,  1765. 
Revd  Worthy  Sir, 

*  An  address  signed  by  the  Churchwardens  of  the  Congre- 
gation at  Trenton  was  transmitted  to  me  in  which  after  deploring  the  loss 
they  have  sustained  by  the  death  of  their  late  worthy  Minister  they  request 
me  to  join  with  them  in  petitioning  the  Society  that  "  I  may  be  appointed  the 
Society's  Missionary  at  Trenton  as  from  my  known  attachment  to  the  cause 
of  religion  they  have  great  reason  to  believe  that  I  shall  be  eminently  useful 
in  continuing  and  promoting  the  interests  of  religion  among  them,  upon  that 
proper  footing  in  which  Mr.  Treadwell's  unwearied  labours  have  left  it." 

This  application  to  me  was  quite  unexpected.  I  have  not  even  a  personal 
knowledge  of  any  one  individual  in  Trenton  :  nor  have  I  ever  solicited  any 
person  to  make  such  mention  of  me  to  this  or  any  other  congregation  as 
might  draw  from  them  these  favorable  representations  in  my  behalf.  I  have 
taken  the  opinion  of  Dr.  Smith,  Mr.  Duche,  Mr.  Neil,  Mr.  Inglis  and  others  on 
this  important  occasion  who  are  all  unanimous  in  advising  me  to  accept  the 
call  and  to  concur  with  the  congregation  of  Trenton  in  soliciting  my  removal 
to  that  place.  I  am  well  aware  that  in  point  of  worldly  interest,  I  may  prob- 
ably be  a  loser  by  the  exchange,  perhaps  considerably  so.  But  I  trust  in  God 
that  in  the  course  of  my  Ministry  I  have  duly  studied  this  truly  Christian  les- 


3%7  [1765. 

son,  That  the  hopes  of  being  more  eminently  useful  in  our  blessed  Redeem- 
er's cause  ought  to  overbalance  every  pecuniary  consideration.  This  agree- 
able prospect  of  superior  usefulness  in  the  present  case,  I  think  I  have  per- 
fectly in  view.  In  some  former  letters  I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  mention 
that  I  had  contracted  a  lameness  in  my  right  arm  occasioned  by  the  falling 
down  of  my  horse.  This  misfortune  befel  me  in  the  immediate  attendance 
upon  the  duties  of  my  mission.  The  approach  of  every  winter  is  dreadful  to 
me  as  in  that  Season  of  the  year  I  am  much  afflicted  with  pain  and  weakness 
in  the  injured  limb.  In  such  circumstances  it  is  needless  to  describe  the  diffi- 
culties I  must  labour  in  a  wide  scattered  congregation.  But  where  the  pasto- 
ral care  is  limited  within  a  compact  close  connected  sphere  of  duty  as  is  rep- 
resented to  be  the  case  at  Trenton  a  person  in  my  situation  must  be  more 
capable  of  duly  discharging  his  function  and  will  consequently  have  it  in  his 
power  to  be  (if  not  more  extensively,  yet)  more  eminently  useful. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

PHILIP  READING. 


M\  BARTON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  Aug1  8th,  1765. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  beg  leave  at  present  to  acquaint  the  Society  that  on 
Sunday  last  I  opened  a  new  Church  in  the  County  of  Berks  about  5  miles 
from  the  Church  of  Carnarvon  and  26  from  this  place.  It  is  a  small  stone 
Edifice  decently  finished  and  has  been  built  in  compliance  with  the  last  will 
and  Testament  of  one  Thomas  Morgan  a  very  pious,  worthy  man,  who  or- 
dered his  Executors  to  build  a  Church  upon  a  Lot  of  Ground  pointed  out  by 
his  will,  and  to  apply  the  issues  and  profits  of  90  acres  of  land  bequeathed  by 
him  for  this  use  towards  the  building  until  paid  for  (which  will  be  in  about  20 
years)  and  when  that  is  done,  the  issues  and  profits  are  directed  to  be  paid 
to  the  Minister  forever.     Tho'  there  did  not  appear  at  first  any  immediate 


1 765-]  388 

necessity  for  a  church  so  near  that  of  Carnarvon,  yet  I  am  now  convinced  it 
may  be  very  useful.  There  are  in  the  neighborhood  of  it  a  great  number  of 
Presbyterians,  Baptists,  Quakers,  &c,  who  have  no  stated  houses  of  worship 
or  settled  preachers  of  their  own,  and  thought  it  too  far  to  ride  to  Carnarvon, 
who  propose  to  attend  here  as  often  as  there  shall  be  Divine  service.  This 
being  the  case  and  as  it  falls  at  present  within  my  Mission,  the  Venerable  So- 
ciety may  be  well  assured  that  I  shall  give  it  all  the  attendance  in  my  power 
tho'  it  will  add  greatly  to  my  duty  &  fatigue,  as  I  shall  be  obliged  to  attend  it 
on  week  days,  the  other  -churches  not  being  willing  to  be  deprived  of  any 
Sundays. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

THOs  BARTON. 


To  the  Venerable  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 

Foreign  Parts. 


The  petition  of  the  Churchwardens  and 
Vestry  of  the  Episcopal  Congrega- 
tion at  Molatton  in  the  County  of 
Berks, 

Most  humbly  Sheweth, 

That  your  petitioners  do  most  heartily  concur  with  their  Brethren  at  Read- 
ing in  presenting  their  humble  and  grateful  acknowledgements  for  the  benefit 
of  the  Mission  appointed  them  and  are  sincerely  desirous  to  pursue  every 
measure  that  may  conduce  to  its  establishment,  and  as  they  are  allowed  £60 
out  of  the  profits  of  a  Lottery  for  repairing  their  church  they  have  engaged 
to  raise  ,£100  more  for  forwarding  that  necessary  work  &  which  must  cost 
them  considerably  more  before  it  is  completed.  But  as  it  will  accommodate 
themselves  so  they  hope  it  will  also  encourage  others  to  unite  with  them  & 
enable  them  soon  after  to  provide  a  glebe  and  parsonage  &  a  better  mainte- 
nance for  their  worthy  Missionary  which  they  are  convinced  is  too  scanty  at 
present,  and  therefore  do  humbly  beg  leave  likewise  to  solicit  the  Venerable 


389  [!763. 

Society  for  the  addition  of  ,£20  Sterling  of  Salary  $  ann.      Your  petitioners 

well  knowing  the  expences  of  the  Society's  extensive  undertakings  would  be 

loath  but  from  necessity  to  make  this  request,  But  as  it  is  not  intended  to 

abate  but  animate  their  endeavours  for  the  better  support  of  the  mission  they 

are  the  more  confident  it  will  meet  with  a  favorable  hearing. 

And  your  petitioners  shall  ever  pray,  &c, 

John  Kinlin,    1 

t  11  r  >  Churchwardens. 

John  Warren,  j 

John  Godfrey, 
George  Douglas, 
Mounce  Johes,        y  Vestrymen. 
Peter  Jones, 
John  Old, 
Molatton,  1 7th  June,  1765. 


Letter  from  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  to  M\  D  UCHE. 


Good  Mr.  Duche, 

I  thank  you  for  your  very  serious  and  good  sermon  which  I  read  with 
great  pleasure :  yet  not  without  being  a  little  in  pain  about  the  reception  of 
your  prefatory  address  by  the  person  concerned. 

A  letter  hath  lately  been  shewn  me  written  by  Mr.  Neill,  missionary  at 
Oxford,  on  the  state  of  our  Church  in  America,  which  he  represents  to  be  in 
a  declining  and  dangerous  condition.  He  saith  that  the  Dissenters  who  have 
the  management  of  a  Charter  granted  some  years  ago  for  the  Benefit  of  their 
poor  ministers  and  the  widows  of  such,  sent  an  agent  lately  to  collect  money 
in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  pretended  to  be  designed  for  the  relief  of  the 
back  inhabitants  who  had  suffered  by  the  Indians  and  that  he  accordingly  did 
collect  large  sums:  but  that  these  have  been  chiefly  applied  not  to  this  pur- 
pose, but  to  the  support  of  the  Interest  of  their  Sect  in  other  ways.  He  also 
complains  that  the  College  of  Philadelphia  is  dwindling  away,  especially  since 
Dr.  Smith's  absence,  into  a  mere  Presbyterian  Faction:  that  the  numbers  of 
Presbyterians  amongst  the  Trustees  increases,  that  of  15  Teachers  in  the  Col- 


1763-']  39° 

lege  all  are  Presbyterians  except  Dr.  Smith,  and  that  they  are  endeavoring  to 
destroy  his  influence  and  worm  him  out:  that  many  times  more  Dissenters 
than  members  of  our  Church  are  bred  there,  and  thus  they  get  instead  of 
mechanics  persons  of  Learning  for  their  ministers,  whilst  we  get  few  from 
thence:  that  the  members  of  our  Church  are  ill  treated  in  the  College  and 
not  chosen  into  offices  tho'  better  qualified  than  others:  that  academical  hon- 
ours are  improperly  bestowed,  and  particularly  that  a  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts  hath  been  given  to  a  very  ignorant  Dissenter,  who  was  not  long  since  a 
maker  of  Leathern  Breeches.  Lastly  from  these  things  he  concludes,  that  the 
collection  which  is  making  here  for  the  use  of  this  College  will  do  harm  to 
our  Church  unless  some  security  can  be  obtained,  that  there  shall  be  always 
such  a  number  of  the  Tutors,  Masters  or  Ushers  of  our  Communion. 

I  shall  be  glad  of  information  from  you  concerning  these  matters,  but  must 
beg  you  not  to  mention  Mr.  Neill's  name,  nor  to  blame  him  very  severely  in 
your  own  mind,  if  you  should  think  he  goes  too  far  in  finding  fault.  For  he 
appears  to  write  from  a  good  intention.  Any  other  intelligence,  relative  to 
ecclesiastical  affairs  will  be  very  acceptable  to  me. 

The  scheme  for  Bishops  in  America  was  proposed  and  explained  to  Lord 
Egremont  about  two  months  ago,  and  he  promised  to  consult  the  rest  of  the 
Ministry  upon  it,  but  died  without  signifying  to  me  their  opinion.  His  suc- 
cessor, Lord  Halifax,  is  a  friend  to  it.  But  as  matters  are  at  present  amongst 
us  I  doubt  whether  he  hath  zeal  enough  to  undertake  what  will  certainly  meet 
with  opposition,  and  the  more  for  Dr.  Mayhew's  late  Pamphlet  which  I  pre- 
sume you  have  seen.  It  is  written  with  great  virulence,  but  must  be  answered 
with  great  mildness  else  no  good  will  be  done.  The  Dissenters  must  be 
treated  with  no  asperity,  but  assured  in  the  strongest  manner  of  what  is  very 
true,  that  we  mean  solely  to  provide  for  our  own  Church  and  not  to  hurt 
them.  Allowances  must  be  craved  for  any  misinforms tions  which  the  Society 
may  have  received,  or  any  mistakes  which  it  may  have  made,  and  our  accusers 
should  be  begged  to  consider  whether  they  and  their  friends  have  been  guilty 
of  none.  Gentle  expostulations  should  be  used  with  Dr.  Mayhew.  He  should 
be  intreated  to  examine  seriously  on  a  review  of  his  book,  what  spirit  he  is  of, 
and  reminded  that  moderation,  always  a  Christian  duty,  is  more  peculiarly 
needful  when  so  many  unbelievers  are  ready  to  take  advantage  of  our  differ- 
ences. Such  representations  may  thro'  God's  grace,  make  an  impression 
upon  him,  or  at  least  upon  others,  whereas  vehemence  will  do  nothing  but 
mischief. 


39i  [1763. 

Pray  desire  Mr.  Peters  to  accept  my  best  respects.  I  earnestly  beseech 
God  to  bless  you  both,  and  his  Church  in  your  parts,  and  am  with  much 
esteem, 

Your  loving-  brother. 

Lambeth,  Sept.  16,  1763. 


Letter  from  Mr.  PETERS  to   the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 


May  it  Please  your  Grace, 

Your  very  obliging  letter  of  the  13  April,  by  some  accident  or  another,  did 
not  come  to  my  hands  till  the  30  of  the  last  month,  and  then  I  was  in  a  course 
of  exercise  for  the  recover}-  of  my  health  which  has  of  late  been  very  much 
impaired  ;  but  by  riding  and  temperate  use  of  light  foods  and  Biscuit  is  likely, 
thro'  Divine  assistance,  to  be  reestablished. 

The  trustees  of  the  College  to  whom  I  communicated  that  part  of  your 
Grace's  letter  which  mentions  them  in  so  kind  a  manner,  desire  me  to  assure 
you  that  they  will  ever  retain  a  most  grateful  sense  of  your  goodness,  being 
abundantly  sensible  that  their  great  success  in  the  collection  carrying  on  by 
Dr.  Smith  is  principally  owing  to  your  Grace's  recommendations  of  this 
charity. 

When  it  is  considered  with  what  a  generous  spirit  the  Clergy  of  the  Estab- 
lished Church  encouraged  by  your  Grace's  example  have  universally  concurred 
in  the  promotion  of  this  Institution,  tho'  in  its  plan  not  confined  to  this  Church, 
but  founded  upon  a  coalition  of  all  religious  Societies  it  would  give  me  a  high 
pleasure  to  inform  your  Grace  that  amongst  its  masters  there  was  a  propor- 
tional number  of  Churchmen,  but  the  truth  is  that  at  present  we  have  only 
one  professor,  Dr.  Smith;  one  Tutor,  Jn°  Hunt,  and  one  writing  master,  ISP. 
Pratt,  out  of  five  Professors.  Four  Tutors  and  two  Writing  Masters,  &  this 
from  downright  necessity,  no  Churchman  oftering  when  there  was  a  vacancy. 
With  care  &  foresight  this  may  be  set  right  for  the  future  &  when  Dr.  Smith 
returns  it  will  be  no  difficult  matter  to  form  a  System  for  the  doing  of  it, 
especially  as  above  two  thirds  of  the  Trustees  are  members  of  the  Churches 
under  my  care. 


I763J  392 

I  am  likewise  requested  by  the  Trustees  to  let  your  Grace  know  that  they 
have  already  drawn  for  Fifteen  hundred  pounds  out  of  the  monies  collected 
by  Dr.  Smith  &  lodged  in  the  hands  of  Mess".  Barclay;  and  that  the  Produce 
of  this  sum  amounting  to  Two  thousand  five  hundred  and  Eighty  Seven 
pounds  has  been  let  out  at  an  interest  of  Six  per  cent  on  land  Security  accom- 
panied with  a  Bond  &  Judgment  for  the  Mortgagor,  which  is  the  very  best 
Security  that  can  be  devised.  And  the  Trustees  do  further  order  me  to  give 
Your  Grace  the  strongest  assurances  that  the  whole  sum  collected  shall  be  let 
out  in  the  same  manner  and  that  the  whole  shall  be  presented  inviolably  as  a 
perpetual  fund  for  the  use  of  the  College. 

The  satisfaction  your  Grace  expresses  at  my  appointment  to  the  Rectory 
of  these  Churches  fills  me  with  an  ardent  desire  to  answer  every  good  end 
that  was  proposed  by  it.  Mr.  Duche  returns  Your  Grace  his  most  dutiful 
respects  and  humble  thanks  for  your  kind  remembrance  of  him.  He  is  so 
deservedly  in  the  esteem  of  the  members  of  our  own  as  well  as  other  Con- 
gregations for  the  piety  and  goodness  of  his  life,  &  the  strong  &  lively  man- 
ner in  which  he  enforces  the  great  doctrines  and  duties  of  Christianity,  that 
there  never  was  a  better  prospect  than  now  at  our  Church  rising  into  reputa- 
tion, so  as  to  give  it,  what  it  has  ever  wanted,  a  due  share  of  influence,  in  a 
Country  abounding  with  all  sorts  of  religious  opinions  &  principally  settled 
by  Quakers. 

The  present  proprietors  are  our  hearty  friends,  and  have  not  only  con- 
sented to  give  us  such  a  Charter  of  Incorporation  as  we  framed  ourselves;  but 
have  presented  us  with  a  very  valuable  Lot  of  Ground,  whereon  our  new 
Church  stands.  The  New  Governor  who  is  the  Eldest  Son  of  our 
Youngest  Proprietor,  and  but  just  arrived,  has  promised  us  his  hearty  protec- 
tion, and  to  do  us  every  friendly  office  in  his  power.  His  father  came  early 
over  to  the  Church,  and  bred  up  all  his  Children  in  a  regular  conformity  to  it. 

Our  vestry  is  ever  turning  their  thoughts  towards  the  advancement  of 
these  Churches  &  all  are  affectionately  unanimous  in  everything  that  is  pro- 
posed in  their  favour. 

I  was  under  some  apprehension  least  Mr.  Whitfield's  coming  amongst  us 
might  have  interrupted  our  harmony,  especially  when  the  Congregations  (who 
I  thought  would  have  left  it  to  me  to  judge  of  the  propriety  of  inviting  him 
into  our  pulpits),  by  the  Churchwardens,  signified  to  me,  without  giving  me 
any  previous  notice,  that  they  were  one  &    all  desirous  that  Mr.  Whitfield 


393  [1763. 

should  be  invited  by  me  to  preach  in  the  Churches;  surprised  at  such  a  request 
which  I  think  was  a  little  inconsistent  with  the  regard  they  owed  to  one  who 
had  given  them  so  many  evidences  of  real  concern  for  their  Peace  and  pros- 
perity, I  gave  then  no  other  answer  than  that  I  would  take  it  into  considera- 
tion. I  forthwith  consulted  Mr.  Duche  &  Mr.  Sturgeon  my  Fellow  Ministers, 
together  with  the  Governor  &  some  other  Friends  to  the  Churches  &  who 
had  both  a  good  judgment  &  a  good  deal  of  influence  in  the  Congregations; 
and  they  were  all  unanimously  of  opinion  that  I  should  comply  with  this 
request,  as  what  might  not  only  prevent  dissatisfaction  &  a  further  disunion 
among  the  members,  who  might  when  displeased  go  over  to  Mr.  McClenahan ; 
but  what  might  really  confirm  those  that  belong  to  us  &  perhaps  get  us  an 
increase.  Therefore  after  Mr.  Whitfield  has  shewn  his  regard  to  the  Govern- 
ment by  waiting  on  the  Governor,  and  had  paid  me  likewise  a  very  kind  and 
polite  visit,  I  invited  him  to  preach  in  the  Old  Church  the  first  Sunday  his 
health  would  permit  (for  he  was  become  Astmatick  &  inclinable  to  a  Dropsy), 
and  he  has  preached  four  times  in  one  or  other  of  the  Churches  without  any 
of  his  usual  censures  of  the  Clergy  &  with  a  greater  moderation  of  sentiment; 
he  grows  better  in  his  health  &  talks  of  staying  in  these  Northern  Colonies 
till  the  Spring ;  &  I  am  in  hopes  his  stay  will  be  attended  rather  with  good 
than  harm  to  the  Churches. 

The  Missionaries  of  this  province  with  whom  I  have  always  lived  on  the 
very  best  &  most  friendly  terms,  desired  they  might  have  a  meeting  this  sum- 
mer, &  that  I  would  comply  with  their  unanimous  request  to  come  there  & 
preside  in  it  &  assist  in  their  consultations ;  but  as  I  had  not  received  the 
Bishop  of  London's  License  nor  any  letter  from  your  Grace  I  desired  them  to 
postpone  their  meeting  till  they  should  arrive  &  then  they  might  command 
my  Services,  as  a  fellow  labourer  in  the  Gospel  and  on  an  equal  footing, 
which  they  agreed  to  do. 

I  go  amongst  them  as  often  as  I  can  be  spared  &  preach  in  their  Churches 
&  promote  whatever  is  in  agitation  for  the  benefit  of  their  missions.  Your 
Grace  may  depend  upon  a  just  and  full  account  of  the  state  of  these  Missions, 
either  in  a  letter  before  I  embark  for  England,  or  in  a  personal  conference, 
if  I  should  be  permitted  by  Providence  to  arrive  there ;  where  the  affairs  of 
my  family  call  for  my  Presence,  &  of  which  I  informed  the  Congregations 
when  they  offered  me  their  Rectorship,  and  I  accepted  it  upon  this  express 
condition  that  I  should  be  one  year  absent  from  them. 


1 763-j  394 

Your  Grace  places  a  very  obliging  confidence  in  me  by  the  communica- 
tion you  are  pleased  to  make  to  me  of  the  endeavours  that  may  at  a  proper 
time  be  used  to  obtain  Bishops  for  the  American  Churches.  The  manner  in 
which  this  affair  has  been  mentioned  in  the  newspapers,  both  of  England  & 
of  these  Colonies,  has  raised  much  jealousy  among  the  Dissenters,  and  many 
of  them  have  come  open-mouthed  to  me  to  know  what  is  going  on  of  this 
sort,  being  perswaded  that  if  there  be  any  truth  in  these  reports,  it  would  be 
likely  I  should  know  something  about  it.  They  talk  variously  on  this  subject : 
some  few  only  see  it  in  a  proper  light.  The  greatest  part  talk  idly  &  shew 
a  littleness  of  mind,  &  a  much  greater  scantiness  of  understanding,  discover- 
ing no  more  than  an  undistinguishing  aversion  to  the  name  of  Bishops.  Let 
their  office  be  never  so  necessary  to  our  own  Church,  and  never  so  much 
guarded  with  respect  to  theirs,  the  truth  is  that,  except  the  Quakers  in  this 
Province  and  the  Church  Congregations  in  this  &  other  Provinces,  the  whole 
Body  of  the  American  people  (I  exclude  Foreigners),  are  Presbyterians,  & 
mostly  what  they  call  Scotch  Irish  from  the  North  of  Ireland.  Their  Minis- 
ters are  in  general  but  men  of  small  talents  &  mean  education,  &  are  per- 
fectly subservient  for  their  maintenance  to  their  Congregations,  &  therefore 
are  obliged  to  humour  &  give  all  up  to  a  popular  Presbytery.  I  know  them 
well,  &  can  from  a  long  experience  say,  that  there  are  few  good  Ministers 
amongst  them,  that  are  not  at  some  time  or  other  most  miserably  abused  by 
these  lay  Governors,  who  either  starve  them  or  whenever  they  take  a  dislike, 
tho'  for  a  just  exercise  of  the  ministerial  influence,  they  turn  them  off,  that  is 
to  say,  they  withhold  their  little  contributions  and  oblige  their  Ministers  to  go 
elsewhere  for  a  support,  and  yet  these  very  members  tho'  thus  maltreated,  are 
fond  to  a  madness  of  these  popular  forms  of  Government  and  would  dislike 
Bishops  on  any  footing. 

Your  Grace's  Letter  comes  very  opportunely  to  enable  me  to  make  a 
proper  answer  to  a  letter  I  received  some  time  ago  from  Dr.  Chandler,  who  is 
pleased  to  tell  me,  that  he  believes  this  matter  of  the  American  Bishops  may 
some  time,  tho'  not  perhaps  soon,  be  stirred  in,  and  he  would  be  glad  I  would 
give  him  candidly  my  sentiments  of  their  expediency  and  utility.  This  is  a 
mark  of  great  confidence  and  I  shall  be  careful  how  I  make  this  good  &  relig- 
ious man  &  Minister  a  just  and  fair  answer,  so  as  to  give  him  the  impressions 
that  every  man  ought  to  have  of  this  matter,  who  has  the  good  of  Religion 
at  heart;  for  sure  I  am  that  no   body  of  men  could   reap  more  benefit  from 


395  [i763- 

Bishops  sent  here  on  the  moderate  plan  mentioned  by  your  Grace  than  the 
Dissenting  Churches;  as  they  would  thence  have  living  instances  before  their 
eyes  that  our  Clergy  who  will  ever  have  a  great  influence  on  theirs,  may  be 
well  governed  &  their  Ministry  made  universally  useful;  whilst  if  they  would 
but  be  ingenuous  &  speak  their  real  feelings,  their  Church  Government  will 
never  produce  in  a  general  way,  but  a  mean,  time-serving  &  hypocritical 
behaviour  in  the  Ministry;  &  an  insufferable  &  pharisaical  haughtiness  in  the 
leading  part  of  their  Congregations.  When  I  have  digested  my  subject  well, 
&  wrote  my  Letter  I  will  send  your  Grace  a  copy.  You  will  however  keep 
this  entirely  within  your  own  breast.  May  be,  I  may  be  an  instrument  under 
Divine  Guidance,  to  do  some  good.  The  occasion  deserves  a  most  serious 
consideration  &  an  earnest  supplication  to  God  for  the  assistance  of  His  own 
unerring  spirit. 

Such  a  tedious  Letter  will  give  your  Grace  but  a  very  unfavorable  opinion 
of  my  correspondence,  but  in  writing  one  thing  rises  after  another  in  such  a 
manner  that  one  cannot  discharge  the  great  duty  that  is  owing  to  a  Trust 
without  being  particular,  &  this  will  not  admit  of  brevity. 

I  pray  God  that  we  may  all  follow  your  Grace's  example  in  doing  all  we 
can  without  any  regard  to  pain  or  pleasure,  good  will  or  ill  will,  for  the  service 
of  our  holy  Religion. 

I  am,  &c., 

RICHARD  PETERS. 
Philadelphia,  17  Octr,  1763. 


1764.]  396 

Petition  of  the  Representatives  of  the   German  Church  to  the 
Archbishops  of   Canterbury    and  York  and  the  Bishop  of 
London. 


To  the  most  Reverend  and  Right  Reverend  Fathers  in  God,  Thomas,  Lord 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  Robert,  Lord  Archbishop  of  York,  and  Rich- 
ard, Lord  Bishop  of  London  : 

The  Petition  of  the  Representatives  of  the  High  German  Church  called  Sl. 
George's  Church  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 

In  all  Humble  manner  Sheweth, 

That  your  Petitioners  and  other  members  of  this  Congregation  have  at 
very  great  expence  erected  an  handsome  brick  church  in  the  said  City  for  the 
service  of  Almighty  God,  being  eighty  feet  in  length  and  fifty-two  feet  in 
breadth. 

That  your  Petitioners  have  felt  the  inconveniences  which  have  too  often 
arisen  in  our  Churches  by  being  under  the  jurisdiction  of  a  Ccetus  here  or  a 
foreign  Synod  in  Holland  or  Germany  are  desirous  of  being  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  or  whatever  other  Bishop  our  most 
gracious  Sovereign  may  be  pleased  to  appoint  over  this  part  of  America. 

That  your  petitioners  have  therefore  got  a  Declaration  of  Trust  for  the 
uses  of  the  said  Church  duly  executed  by  Nine  of  the  twelve  trustees  of  the 
Ground  (which  they  are  advised  is  sufficient  in  Law),  empowering  fourteen 
members  of  the  Congregation  in  conjunction  with  the  said  Trustees  or  a 
majority  of  them  and  the  said  Fourteen  (whose  names  are  subscribed)  to 
frame,  settle- and  finally  conclude  upon  fundamental  Articles  and  Rules  for  the 
good  order  and  future  government  of  the  said  Church  forever. 

That  in  pursuance  of  the  trust  so  reposed  in  us,  we,  your  petitioners  by 
and  with  the  consent  of  the  Congregation  have  agreed  upon  the  following 
fundamental  articles,  viz.: 

First,  "That  from  and  after  Easter,  which  shall  be  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty  six,  no  Minister  shall  be  capable  of 
officiatine  in  the  said  Church  or  of  beine  chosen   to  the  office  of  Minister 


397  [J764- 

thereof  without  first  receiving  Episcopal  Ordination  nor  without  being  specially 
licenced  or  approved  for  the  same  by  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  for  the  time 
being  or  whatever  other  Bishop  His  Majesty  may  be  pleased  to  invest  with 
Episcopal  Jurisdiction  over  this  part  of  America." 

Secondly,  "And  we  do  hereby  further  provide  that  such  Licence  or  appro- 
bation on  the  part  of  the  Bishops  as  aforesaid  shall  only  be  given  to  such  Min- 
ister or  Ministers  as  the  Representatives  of  the  said  Congregation  or  a  major- 
ity of  them  known  by  the  name  of  Consistory  shall  nominate  and  recommend 
to  the  Bishop  for  that  purpose." 

Thirdly,  "And  we  do  further  ordain  and  settle  it  as  a  Fundamental  consti- 
tution of  the  said  Church  and  Congregation  that  the  Liturgy  and  Service 
of  the  Church  of  England  or  a  translation  thereof  in  the  German  as  used  in 
the  King's  German  Chapel  and  none  else,  be  used  in  the  said  Congregation 
of  the  said  Church." 

Fourthly,  "And  we  do  hereby  with  the  approbation,  consent  and  advice  of 
the  Congregation  nominate,  appoint  and  recommend  the  Reverend  Mr.  Fred- 
erick Rothenbuhler  to  be  the  fixed  and  settled  Minister  of  the  said  Church, 
provided  he  shall  receive  Episcopal  Ordination  and  be  licenced,  qualified  and 
approved  agreeable  to  the  Tenor  hereof." 

That  your  petitioners  in  pursuance  of  the  said  Articles  had  proposed  to 
send  our  present  Minister,  Mr.  Rothenbuhler  (who  was  educated  and  had  Cal- 
vinistic  Ordination  at  Bern  in  Switzerland),  to  receive  Episcopal  Ordination 
from  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  if  thought  worthy  of  the  same,  and  to 
solicit  the  benefactions  of  pious  and  well  disposed  persons  in  England  to 
enable  us  to  pay  off  a  debt  of  above  a  Thousand  pounds  sterling  contracted 
in  Building  the  said  Church  (which  is  not  yet  near  finished  in  the  Inside),  for 
which  Debt  the  Estates  and  Houses  of  many  of  your  poor  Petitioners  are 
mortgaged  and  no  means  left  in  their  power  to  clear  the  same,  having  raised 
everything  they  could  by  contributions  among  their  Friends  in  this  city  and 
Province. 

That  our  said  Minister  would  have  embarked  for  England  immediately  but 
was  advised  by  the  Episcopal  Clergy  of  this  city  first  to  transmit  the  state  of 
our  case  and  obtain  the  approbation  of  your  Graces  and  of  your  Lordship  for 
the  same. 

Your  petitioners  therefore  humbly  pray  (as  they  are  the  first  German  con- 
gregation in  this  country  who  have  solicited  to  be  taken  under  the  Protection 


1764.] 


398 


of  the  Church  of  England  and  united  with  her),  that  their  case  may  be  favour- 
ably received  and  that  they  may  be  informed  whether  their  Minister  may  be 
permitted  to  proceed  to  England  in  the  Spring  agreeable  to  the  Articles  afore- 
said, and  whether  your  poor  petitioners  may  not  have  hopes  by  Royal  Brief 
or  otherwise  of  obtaining  assistance  from  pious  and  well  disposed  persons  in 
England  in  their  present  distressed  state  of  circumstances  ;  and  your  petition- 
ers as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray,  &c. 


Conrad  Alster, 
John  Hang, 
Valentine  Kern, 
Joseph  Job, 
Christian  Roth, 
slgmund  haglegauss, 
Peter  Fiess, 


John  Frick, 

John  Wolf, 

Christian  Alberger, 
* 


Frederick  Schreyer, 
Conrad  Schneider, 
John  Gaul, 
S'.  George's  Church,  Philadelphia,  Octr  21st,  1764. 


Jacob  Roth, 
Abraham  Frioth, 
Samuel  Maus, 
George  Fodel, 
Jacob  Becker, 
Jacob  Kleisly, 
Jacob  Barr. 


Philadelphia,  Octr  22nd,  1764. 
My  Lords, 

Give  me  leave  to  certify  that  the  above  is  a  true  state  of  the  aforesaid 
Congregation  and  Church  and  that  the  subscribers  whose  names  I  have 
annexed  in  English  are  the  regular  Representatives  of  the  Congregation.  It 
would  not  become  me  who  have  been  so  lately  a  Beggar  in  England  myself 
and  so  highly  favored  by  the  countenances  of  your  Graces  and  your  Lordship 
to  become  a  speedy  or  warm  solicitor  for  others.  But  if  by  any  means  some- 
thing could  be  done  for  these  poor  people  they  are  really  objects  of  Charity 
and  their  case  worthy  of  Notice.  The  Congregation  is  very  considerable  in 
number,  the  greatest  part  of  them  are  but  of  low  circumstances  and  any 
countenance  given  to  a  German  Congregation  on  this  plan  may  be  of  happy 
consequence  among  their  numerous  countrymen  in  this  Province.  The 
answer  to  their  Petition  may  be  transmitted  under  cover  to, 

My  Lords,  Your  most  dutiful  son  and  obliged  humble  Servant, 

WILLIAM  SMITH. 


*  Illegible. 


399  [1765 

M\  NEILL  to  the  Secretary, 


(EXTRACT.) 

Oxford,  Decr  14th,  1765. 
Revd  Sir, 

After  maturely  considering  the  consequence  of  their  invitation  that  a  door 
appeared  to  be  now  opened  for  healing  the  breaches  in  that  Church,  and  that 
such  a  respectable  body  of  Christians  who  are  very  numerous  and  declare 
themselves  members  of  the  Church  of  England  should  not  be  neglected  I  con- 
cluded upon  the  whole  that  it  was  my  duty  to  comply  with  the  invitation  as  far 
as  was  consistant  with  the  duty  I  owed  to  my  own  people.  I  put  my  resolu- 
tion into  execution,  I  consulted  my  own  congregation,  and  having  called  a 
vestry,  a  committee  from  the  vestry  of  Sl.  Paul's  attended  and  requested  it  as 
a  favor  from  my  vestry  in  the  name  of  the  congregation  of  Sl.  Paul's  that  I 
might  be  permitted  to  supply  them  at  least  once  a  month  and  sometimes  in 
the  afternoon  when  I  preached  at  Oxford.  My  vestry  in  consideration  of  their 
own  inability  to  contribute  hardly  anything  these  hard  times  to  my  support, 
and  the  vestry  of  S\  Paul's,  offering  to  make  me  grateful  acknowledgements 
agreed  to  their  request. 

I  have  since  attended  according  to  the  agreement,  and  must  truly  say  the 
people  of  S\  Paul's  behave  with  as  much  decency  and  good  order  throughout 
all  parts  of  the  service  as  in  any  other  Church  I  have  seen. 

I  am,  &c., 

HUGH  NEILL. 


1 766.]  400 

M\  BARTON  to  the  Secretary 


(EXTRACT.) 

Lancaster  in  Pennsylvania,  January  23d,  1766. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  assure  you  that  the  young  people 
in  my  congregations  shew  a  seriousness  and  warmth  in  matters  of  religion 
not  common  in  persons  of  their  years — several  of  them  came  to  the  Lord's 
Table  at  Christmas  &  presented  their  souls  &  Bodies  with  so  much  devotion 
and  contrition  of  heart  as  not  only  pleased  but  affected  the  whole  congrega- 
tion. Many  more  are  now  preparing  to  follow  their  example  at  Easter.  May 
I  humbly  desire  the  favor  of  the  Venerable  Society  to  encourage  these  good 
dispositions  by  granting  them  some  of  the  tracts  called  the  Reasonable  Com- 
municant ? 

Having  so  lately  wrote  to  you  by  Mr.  Wilson  I  shall  take  the  liberty  to 
defer  sending  you  any  particular  Accounts  till  after  Easter.  The  Churches 
at  Whiteclay  Creek  &  New  London  are  now  entering  into  subscriptions,  &c., 
which  I  shall  send  you  as  soon  as  they  come  to  my  hands.  They  are  a  relig- 
ious, good  sort  of  people,  &  I  make  no  doubt  will  exert  their  best  endeavours 
to  encourage  &  support  a  Missionary. 

Permit  me  to  inform  the  Venerable  Society  that  in  the  month  of  Septem- 
ber last  I  paid  a  visit  to  Sir  William  Johnson  in  the  Mohawk  country  about 
350  miles  from  this  place.  There  I  had  an  opportunity  of  making  myself 
acquainted  with  the  state  of  the  Mohawk  Indians  ;  and  of  enquiring  into  the 
best  methods  of  carrying  the  Gospel  into  the  Indian  country  in  general.  The 
Mohawks,  I  found,  are  very  desirous  to  have  an  opportunity  to  receive  instruc- 
tion. There  are  several  families  still  residing  at  their  Castles,  one  of  which  is 
on  the  Mohawk  River  &  now  called  Fort  Hunter,  the  other  at  Canajoheri. 
They  complain  that  they  have  been  much  neglected  since  the  removal  of  Mr. 
Ogilvie  ;  &  would  be  glad  to  be  supplied  with  the  means  of  knowledge.  A 
Society<t>f  Gentlemen  in  New  England  have  set  up  an  Indian  School  under 
the  direction  of  one  Mr.  Wheelock,  a  Dissenting  Preacher.  They  send 
young  men    from    their  Colleges   received  as    Probationers   into    the   woods 


401  [1766. 

where  they  stay  till  they  have  prevailed  upon  the  Indians  to  send  some  of  their 
children  to  this  School  with  which  they  return  ;  &  then  others  are  sent.  I  saw 
one  of  these  Missionaries  at  Sir  William  Johnson's,  returning  from  the  Indian 
country  with  five  or  six  Indian  Boys.  This  appears  to  be  the  most  plausible 
method  to  civilize  these  rude  &  barbarous  creatures  &  to  prepare  them  for 
the  reception  of  knowledge  &  religion  &  is  highly  worthy  of  imitation.  Sir 
William  Johnson  who  is  a  worthy  member  of  the  Church  of  England,  and 
universally  esteemed  for  his  goodness  of  heart,  seems  desirous  to  interest 
himself  in  this  good  cause.  The  Revd  Mr.  Auchmuty  of  New  York,  seeing 
the  advantage  it  would  be  to  this  undertaking  if  he  could  obtain  that  Gentle- 
man's  leave  to  propose  him  as  a  member  of  the  Society,  desired  me  to  write 
to  him  upon  that  subject,  in  consequence  of  which  I  received  the  following 
answer — 

"  Sir, 

"  The  interest  I  have  in  the  welfare  of  the  Indians  and  my  sincere  regard 
I  have  in  the  happiness  of  these  people  has  induced  me  at  all  times  to  give 
proper  introductions  and  assistance  to  the  Missionaries  sent  amongst  them, 
and  if  my  becoming  a  member  of  the  Society  will  encrease  my  power  to  for- 
ward so  good  a  work,  I  cannot  hesitate  to  agree  to  Mr.  Auchmuty's  kind  pro- 
posal to  whom  I  am  much  obliged  for  his  intentions  relative  to  me,  and 
I  must  beg  the  favour  of  you  to  transmit  him  my  hearty  thanks  and  let 
him  know  I  can  have  no  objection  of  becoming  a  Member  of  so  venerable  a 
body. 

"  I  am,  &c., 

"William  Johnson. 

"Johnson  Hall,  Novr  7,  1765." 

I  thought  it  my  duty  to  mention  this  affair  to  the  Society — and  if  in  any  of 
my  proceedings  it  should  appear  that  I  have  taken  undue  liberties  I  hope  they 
will  be  charged  to  a  well  meant  zeal  &  be  excused. 

In  the  month  of  July  last  I  had  the  honor  to  receive  a  Letter  from  General 
Gage  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract — 

"Sir, 

"There  is  not  at  present  any  Chaplain  nominated  for  the  Garrison  of 
Montreal ;   if  you  should  think  it  for  your  advantage  to  accept  of  that  in  pref- 


1 766.]  402 

erence  to  the  livings  you  now  enjoy,  you  will  please  to  acquaint  me.  Should 
you  be  of  that  opinion  and  willing  to  make  trial  of  Canada  you  may  in  the 
meantime,  till  an  answer  can  arrive  to  my  recommendation  of  you  to  the 
chaplainship  of  the  Garrison,  be  appointed  deputy  to  two  Regiments.  The 
Chaplain  of  Montreal  will  have  the  same  pay  as  those  in  other  Regiments,  &c. 

"  I  am,  &c., 

"  Thomas  Gage. 
"  New  York,  July  12,  1765." 

To  this  I  answered  that  I  was  under  the  highest  obligations  to  his  Excel- 
lency for  his  favorable  opinion  of  me  and  kind  intentions  towards  me.  That 
I  should  lay  his  generous  proposal  before  the  Society  whose  advice  in  an  affair 
of  so  much  consequence  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  ask,  &c. 

I  am  sincerely  concerned  at  the  present  turbulent  and  disturbed  situation 
of  the  Colonies.  Every  day  presents  us  with  indecent  and  infiamatory  papers. 
It  is  hoped  the  Mother  Country  will  be  able  to  discover  who  the  people  are  that 
first  raised  and  encouraged  these  disturbances,  that  the  innocent  may  not  be 
involved  with  the  guilty.  But  this  is  a  subject  on  which  it  is  not  safe  for  a 
man  who  has  not  virtue  enough  to  make  him  a  Martyr  to  speak  or  write  freely 
here. 

A  Paragraph  has  been  lately  published  in  our  American  Papers  that  orders 
were  sent  to  the  Agents  of  the  Colonies  to  remonstrate  against  the  introduc- 
tion of  Episcopacy  in  America  as  a  thing  that  would  be  highly  disagreeable 
to  the  people  in  general.  Suffer  me  to  assure  you,  Sir,  that  this  is  a  report 
founded  in  falsehood.  Certain  I  am  that  the  introducing  Episcopacy  into 
America  would  not  at  present  be  disagreeable  to  any  Protestant  Society  in  it 
except  one  which  one  no  doubt  made  use  of  this  opportunity  when  they  knew 
the  minds  of  many  were  infiam'd  to  propagate  this  Report,  I  have  often 
wished  that  Keith's  Presbyterian  and  independent  Churches  brought  to  the 
test  could  be  sent  over  to  every  mission.  Nothing  but  the  good  providence 
of  God  could  preserve  anything  like  the  National  Church  here.  For  "many 
there  be  that  would  swallow  it  up."  But  in  spite  of  every  obstacle  &  discour- 
agement thrown  in  its  way,  it  gains  ground  and  will  I  hope  one  day  be  the 
great  ornament  and  blessing  of  this  immence  Continent. 

Revd  Sir,  &c., 

THOs  BARTON. 


403  [1766. 

M".  SMITH  to  the   Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Philada,  March  3d,  1766. 


Dear  Sir, 

I  have  mentioned  everything  which  I  think  of  immediate  consequence  in 
the  enclosed  letter  to  his  Grace,  which  you  will  no  doubt  have  the  perusal  of; 
only  I  must  trouble  you  with  one  thing  which  I  did  not  recollect  till  after  the 
enclosed  was  sealed  up,  viz.,  to  propose  the  worthy  Sr  Wm  Johnson,  Bar',  his 
Majesty's  Superintendant  for  Indian  Affairs,  as  a  member  of  the  Society. 

In  this  letter  to  me  he  writes  "with  satisfaction  on  the  success  of  our  Col- 
lege, which  he  says  he  observes  with  greater  pleasure  as  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land is  weak  in  these  parts  and  held  in  too  much  contempt  by  the  blind  zealots 
of  other  communions  who  may  one  day  repay  with  a  heavy  hand,  whatever 
severity  they  at  any  time  suffered  or  rather  brought  on  themselves  in  Eng- 
land. As  a  specimen  of  their  good  inclinations  and  charity  (continues  he  in 
his  letter  to  me),  I  send  you  a  copy  of  a  petition,  some  new  Settlers  here  (near 
Mount  Johnson),  yesterday  put  into  my  hand  requesting  that  I  would  patron- 
ize and  assist  them  ;  but  they  met  with  the  first  refusal  I  ever  gave  such  ap- 
plications from  any  reformed  denomination  ;  the  misrepresentations  and  False- 
hoods in  their  petition  were  so  gross  I  thought  it  would  be  worthy  of  your 
perusal." 

This  petition  at  which  Sr  William  is  so  angry  was  from  a  sort  of  Scots 
Covenanters  addressed  to  the  Dutch  Kirk  at  Schenectady  in  Sr  William's 
Neighborhood,  in  which  they  say — 

"  That  altho'  our  Fathers  be  originally  from  Scotland,  yet  after  residing 
some  years  in  Ireland,  being  there  oppressed  in  our  consciences  by  the  vigorous 
impositions  of  stiperstitious  Episcopacy  &  Archbishops  we  set  sail  from  Ireland 
in  May  1 764  (to  be  sure  you  would  have  thought  they  came  more  than  a  cen- 
tury ago),  &  God  hath  provided  us  a  settlement  in  Batten  Kiln,  but  we  have 
been  3  half  years  destitute  of  a  Kirk,  &c., — and  as  God  did  in  the  bloody 
days  of  Charles  the  2nd  put  it  into  the  hearts  of  your  fathers  in  Holland  to 
shelter  our  ancestors  who  fled  from  the  long  25  years  persecution  in  Scotland 
so  we  hope,  &c." 


1766.]  4°4 

The  design  of  all  this  was  to  work  on  the  Dutch  at  Schenectady  and 
make  them  believe  these  people  fled  from  persecution  in  Ireland  even  as  late 
as  1764 — no  wonder  a  man  of  Sr  Wms  goodness  rejected  their  Petition.  The 
intention  of  the  above  extracts  of  his  Letters  is  to  show  that  he  would  be  a 
worthy  Member  of  the  Society  for  which  I  beg  he  may  be  proposed.  I  am,  in 
haste, 

Dear  &  Worthy  Sir,  &c., 

WILL.  SMITH. 


Mr .  NEILL  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Oxford  in  Pennsylvania,  May  19th,  1766. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  *       Such,  alas  !  are  the  misfortunes  and  I  may  say  persecutions, 

that  attend  the  poor  distressed  Church  of  England  in  America,  that  whilst 
the  Dissenters  can  send  out  an  innumerable  tribe  of  Teachers  of  all  sorts, 
without  any  expence,  we  must  send  three  thousand  miles,  cross  the  Atlantic 
Ocean,  at  an  expence  of  all  we  are  worth  sometimes  and  as  much  more  as  we 
have  credit  for  as  well  as  the  risque  of  our  lives  before  we  can  have  an  ordi- 
nation :  this  is  a  difficulty  that  has  and  always  will  prevent  the  growth  of  the 
Church  in  America.  Few  Englishmen  that  can  live  at  home  will  undertake 
the  Mission.  The  great  expences  and  dangers  of  the  Seas  that  the  Americans 
must  encounter  with  before  they  can  obtain  an  ordination,  damps  their  spirits 
and  forces  many  of  them  (who  have  strong  inclinations  to  the  Church)  to  join 
the  Dissenters  and  become  teachers  among  them.  Thus,  when  a  vacancy 
happens  among  them,  it  can  be  filled  in  an  instant,  while  a  vacancy  among  us 
is  some  considerable  time  before  they  can  have  a  Minister.  All  this  time  the 
Dissenters  are  making  such  havock  among  the  Church  people,  that  when  a 
Missionary  comes  to  one  of  these  destitute  places  he  has  all  the  work  to  begin 
again  and  many  years  before  he  can  collect  his  scattered  Flock. 

The  Dissenters  very  well  know  that  the  sending  of  a  Bishop  to  America 


405  [i766. 

would  contribute  more  to  the  increase  of  the  Church  here  than  all  the  money 
that  has  been  raised  by  the  Venerable  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gos- 
pel. Alas  !  we  see  and  feel  the  power  of  our  enemies  and  weakness  of  our 
friends,  and  can  only  mourn  in  secrete  and  pray  for  better  times. 

The  Revd  Dr.  Allison,  Vice  Provost  of  the  College  of  Philadelphia,  and 
who  is  at  the  head  of  the  Presbyterians  in  this  Province,  assured  me  the  other 
day  in  a  conversation  upon  this  subject  that  they  had  no  objection  to  what  he 
called  primitive  Episcopacy,  i.  e„  Episcopacy  without  any  civil  power  annexed 
to  it,  as  he  explained  himself,  and  that  he  would  be  well  contented  if  there 
was  a  Bishop  of  this  sort  in  every  Province   n  America. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

HUGH  NEILL. 


M\  CRAIG  to  the  Secretary, 


(EXTRACT.) 

Chester,  June  25th,  1766. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  I  have  often  wondered  what  can  be  ye  reason  yl  the  British 
dominions  in  America  are  not  blessed  with  a  Bishop.  It  is  certainly  a  very 
great  loss  to  the  Church  and  ye  longer  it  is  deferred  it  will  be  more  so.  It 
was  thought  absolutely  necessary  to  have  one  before  our  late  conquests  &  if 
I  may  give  my  opinion  three  now  will  be  few  enough,  viz'.,  one  for  ye  Floridas 
and  Carolinas,  one  for  Virginia,  Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  New 
Jersey  &  Boston  provinces,  &  ye  third  for  Canada.  Now  for  their  support,  ye 
Crown  in  or  near  all  these  Colonies  has  land  enough  together  with  some  per- 
quisites of  Government  which  do  belong  to  that  order  of  men.  Were  yl  hap- 
py era  come  I  am  persuaded  ye  Church  would  flourish  in  ye  Colonies.  I  shall 
assign  one  reason  instead  of  many,  viz.,  That  as  Seminaries  of  learning  are 
now  become  common  in  ye  Colonies,  Therefore  many  of  the  Dissenting 
Farmers  who  give  their  sons  education  in  these  Seminaries  which  are  gener- 
ally under  ye  direction  of  Dissenting  Trustees  &  Professors.     If  those  Stu- 


1 766.]  406 

dents,  I  say,  have  an  inclination  to  turn  into  the  Church  yet  they  cannot,  by 
reason  their  Parents  either  cannot,  or  if  they  can  they  will  not  be  at  ye  expence 
of  sending  them  to  Eng-land  for  ordination  and  thus  the  Church  loses  ground 
daily  especially  if  we  consider  ye  number  of  inhabitants  yl  are  here  already 
&  are  yearly  increasing  by  importation  from  Germany  and  our  own  dominions 
in  Europe.  Therefore  were  there  some  of  ye  Episcopal  order  amongst  us 
men  remarkable  for  piety  and  moderation,  it  would  be  under  God  of  infinite 

advantage  to  our  Church. 

Revd  Sir,  &c., 

GEO.  CRAIG. 


M'\  BARTON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Lancaster,  November  10th,  1766. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  am  sorry  to  acquaint  the  Venerable  Society  that  there  are  not  less  than 
3  Missions  &  12  Churches  now  vacant  in  this  Government,  besides  several 
in  the  Governments  of  Jersey  &  New  York.  The  Missions  of  Lewes, 
Dover  &  Trenton  have  been  long  vacant;  those  of  Burlington  &  Oxford  are 
lately  become  so,  one  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Campbell  and  the  other  by  the  re- 
moval of  Mr.  Neill  to  Maryland.  I  am  just  returned  from  visiting  the  three 
last,  in  two  of  which  I  preached  to  very  large  and  respectable  congregations. 
The  duties  of  my  own  Mission  are  too  extensive  to  admit  of  my  giving  such 
a  share  of  my  labours  as  I  could  wish,  &  am  daily  solicited  for  to  others.  A 
new  congregation  has  lately  sprung  up  in  that  branch  of  my  Mission  called 
Caernarvon  which  has  built  a  small  decent  stone  Church  about  5  miles  from 
Bangor  Church  where  I  officiated  several  times  last  summer  on  Sunday 
evenings  after  having  serv'd  the  other  Church. 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  assure  the  Venerable  Society  that  the  state  of  my 
Mission  is  no  reproach  to  me.  The  Churches  are  well  finished  ;  the  Grave 
yards  in  good  repair,  and  the  Congregations  numerous,  orderly  &  attentive. 


407  [i  766. 

I  catechise  &  lecture  the  children  ever}-  Sunday  publickly  in  the  Church,  and 
visit  &  exhort  families  in  private.  The  number  of  my  communicants  is  un- 
certain being-  much  greater  at  one  time  than  another.  At  present  it  is  about 
75.     The  number  of  Infants  baptized  in  the  last  half  year  31. 

The  people  of  Whiteclay  Creek  whom  I  mentioned  in  a  former  letter  to 
you,  are  building  a  large  Brick  Church  in  the  Town  of  New  Port,  and  will 
engage  in  conjunction  with  New  London  to  purchase  a  Glebe  and  raise  ^30 
sterling  a  year  towards  the  support  of  a  Missionary.  They  are  a  zealous, 
worthy  people  &  deserve  encouragement,  but  as  those  places  were  formerly 
and  ought  still  to  be  branches  of  the  Mission  of  New  Castle  I  cannot  see  how 
the  VenbIe  Society  can  afford  to  grant  them  a  separate  Missionary ;  and  yet 
their  case  is  truly  hard,  as  they  declare  they  cannot  with  a  good  conscience 
admit  the  present  Missionary  (against  whom  they  have  imbibed  prejudices  but 
with  what  justice  I  cannot  say),  to  officiate  among  them.  The  Venble  Society, 
however,  I  trust  will  in  some  way  take  those  people  under  their  care. 

At  Newtown  in  Bucks  County,  about  8  miles  from  Bristol,  some  Members 
of  the  Church  of  England,  encouraged  by  the  liberal  &  generous  benefactions 
of  some  principal  Quakers,  are  building  an  elegant  Brick  Church.  I  am  told  a 
very  large  congregation  may  be  collected  there,  to  which  I  intend  shortly  to 
pay  a  visit. 

Edward  Shippen,  Esqre,  Protonotary  of  this  County,  has  by  deed  to  the 
Venble  Society  granted  and  conveyed  a  lot  of  ground  in  the  Town  of  Ship- 
pensburg,  20  miles  beyond  Carlisle,  in  the  County  of  Cumberland,  for  the  use 
of  the  Church  forever. 

Mr.  John  Cox,  a  Merchant  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  has  likewise  by  a 
deed  to  the  Society  granted  a  lot  for  the  same  purposes  in  Estherton  lying 
about  N.  W.  of  Lancaster  40  miles  on  the  River  Susquehanna  where 
there  are  several  families  belonging  to  the  Church  who  are  at  too  great  a  dis- 
tance from  any  stated  Mission  to  attend  Divine  Service.  This  Gentleman  has 
also  promised  to  give  £20  himself  and  to  collect  ^100  more  among  his  friends 
in  Philadelphia  towards  building  a  Church  upon  said  lot,  and  his  Lady  en- 
gages to  furnish  it  with  a  Bell. 

I  have  just  received  from  an  acquaintance  in  Rowan  County  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  North  Carolina,  the  Copy  of  a  Petition  to  which  is  annexed  a  list  of 
the  persons  belonging  to  the  Church  of  England  in  that  County,  amounting 
to  1900,  lately  presented  to  Governor  Tryon.     In  the  Northern   parts  of  that 


1766.]  4°3 

Province,  which  are  now  very  thickly  settled,  it  is  said  no  Episcopal  Minister 
ever  appears  there  whilst  the  Dissenters  are  assiduous  in  pouring  in  their 
probationary  preachers  among  them  every  day.  The  people  belonging  to  the 
Church  of  England,  who  are  numerous,  lament  that  they  are  deprived  of  an 
opportunity  of  worshipping  God  in  the  way  they  would  chuse,  that  hundreds 
of  their  children  remain  unbaptized,  and  that  they  have  the  disagreeable  pros- 
pect of  beholding  the  Interest  of  the  Church  of  England  sinking  in  those  parts 
whilst  that  of  the  Sectaries  rises  and  gains  strength.  I  am  extremely  sensible 
how  impossible  it  is  for  the  Society  to  extend  relief  to  all  that  Petition  for  it 
&  really  stand  in  need  of  it.  Until  it  shall  therefore  please  God  to  incline  the 
hearts  of  the  rich  and  opulent  to  put  this  in  their  power  I  would  beg  leave  with 
all  possible  humility  &  respect  to  recommend  it  to  them  to  appoint  two  itiner- 
ant Missionaries  to  have  no  stated  charge  or  settled  residence  but  to  travel 
about  from  one  vacant  Church  &  Conereeation  to  another.  One  of  those 
Missionaries  to  supply  Whiteclay  Creek,  N.  London,  Bristol,  Newtown,  Es- 
therton  &  Shippensburg  in  this  Province,  and  the  other  to  be  sent  to  itinerate 
in  N.  Carolina.  An  appointment  of  this  kind  might  be  attended  with  very 
beneficial  consequences.  The  people  would  be  encouraged  in  their  building 
Churches.  The  Sacrament  of  Baptism,  upon  which  they  set,  as  they  ought  to 
do,  a  very  high  value,  would  be  administered  to  their  children,  and  a  spirit  of 
religion  would  be  kept  alive  among  them  till  something  better  can  be  done  for 
them.  But  alas  !  the  people  may  erect  Churches,  the  Society  open  Missions 
&  appoint  Missionaries  who  shall  labour  &  preach,  yet  nothing  will  ever  give 
real  strength,  security  &  credit  to  the  Church  in  America  without  a  settled 
Episcopate.  Whilst  every  religious  sect  in  the  New  World  rejoices  in  the 
free,  full  &  compleat  exercise  of  its  discipline  &  Government,  the  Church  of 
England  alone  sits  like  a  distressed,  mourning  child  that  has  lost  a  tender 
Parent  and  will  not  be  comforted.  The  great  danger  of  the  seas  which  we 
have  lately  sadly  experienced  in  the  loss  of  two  Missionaries,  and  the  great 
expence  attending  a  voyage  to  England  must  ever  be  checks  to  its  growth 
and  prosperity.  One  branch  of  the  Dissenters  I  know  has  taken  great  pains 
to  discourage  the  introduction  of  Episcopacy  into  America;  but  I  can  with 
great  pleasure  &  truth  assure  you  that  it  would  not  be  disagreeable  to  the 
Quakers  or  Germans.  The  German  Lutherans  in  this  Town  have  built  one 
of  the  most  elegant  Churches  in  Pennsylvania,  at  the  opening  of  which  they 
invited  me  to  preach.     I  readily  consented  upon  their  making  no  objection  to 


4-09  [1766. 

my  introducing  the  Liturgy  &  service   of  the  Church  of  England,  to  which 
those  people  are  very  warmly  attached. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

THO.  BARTON. 


M.  PETERS  to  the  Bishop  of  London. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  14  Novr,  1766. 
May  it  please  your  Lordship, 

By  the  favor  of  a  good  providence  the  Churches  of  Kent  and  Sussex  have 
met  with  a  supply  sooner  than  could  be  reasonably  expected.  Two  young 
men  of  excellent  Character  have  offered  themselves  to  those  congregations 
who  have  been  for  some  time  engaged  in  the  study  of  Divinity  and  have  ob- 
tained their  Calls  and  an  advance  of  money  to  bear  the  expences  of  their 
Voyage.  It  is  with  pleasure  that  we  give  them  our  Testimonials  for  they  are 
both  of  them  known  to  the  subscribers  of  them  to  be  well  qualified  in  every 
respect  both  as  to  Literature  and  morals  and  as  such  I  heartily  recommend 
them  to  your  Lordship  and  to  the  Society. 

Above  twenty  Missions  are  now  vacant.  Is  it  considered  that  a  thousand 
pounds  will  not  be  sufficient  barely  to  pay  for  the  Voyage  and  expences  at- 
tending the  Ordination  of  twenty  Missionaries  ?  Such  a  sum,  great  as  it  is,  is 
but  a  trifle  in  comparison  to  loss  of  time,  risques  at  Sea,  and  other  discour- 
agements which  frighten  many  well  disposed  persons  and  set  parents  and  Re- 
lations against  the  first  motions  that  might  arise  towards  the  Ministry  in  our 
Church,  whilst  hundreds  of  Dissenting  Preachers  can  be  made  with  but  little 
expence  and  forthwith  dispatched  to  any  part  of  the  Continent  where  the  Sy- 
nod wants  either  to  supply  settled  places  or  open  new  ones. 

I  was  vastly  pleased  with  your  Lordship's  Letter  to  the  Clergy  of  Jersey. 
They  are  all  of  my  friends  and  insisted  with  so  much  attention  on  my  coming 
to  the  Convention  they  held  last  month  at  Shrewsbury  that  I  readily  went  and 
found  them  full  of  a  kind  of  resentment  that  Bishops  so  necessary  to  the  very 


1766.]  4IQ 

life  of  the  Churches  here  should  be  so  long  denied  them  and  talked  of  renew- 
ing their  Addresses.  I  rallied  them  and  at  last  grew  serious  with  them  know- 
ing nothing  all  this  while  of  your  Lordship's  Letter  to  them.  By  accident 
tumbling  over  the  papers  that  lay  on  the  table  it  offered  itself  and  gave  me  a 
fresh  opportunity  of  renewing  my  Sentiments  which  please  me  the  more  as 
they  are  directly  such  as  are  earnestly  recommended  to  them  by  your  Lord- 
ship They  are  really  good  people  and  some  of  them  very  sensible  as  Doc- 
tor Chandler,  Mr.  Danbury,  Mr.  McKean  and  Mr.  Cook.  In  short  they  are  all 
diligent  in  their  cares  and  have  Religion  at  heart  but  for  all  this  they  cannot 
observe  any  temper  in  the  affair  of  Bishops  and  it  is  just  so  with  the  New 
York  Clergy  as  I  hear  and  have  seen  a  little  of  it  it  in  some  of  them.  They 
have  got  it  into  their  head  that  the  appointment  of  Commissaries  is  like 
throwing  cold  water  on  the  design  of  sending  us  Bishops  and  will  oppose  all 
Commissorial  Powers  with  all  their  might.  What  I  say  to  your  Lordship  is  in 
confidence  and  with  a  proper  love  for  my  Brethren.  They  did  not  take  it 
amiss  in  me  for  dissenting  from  them  and  opening  the  many  advantages  aris- 
ing from  Commissaries  besides  shewing  them  that  they  had  been  in  use  since 
1620  without  interruption  till  lately.  I  think  I  am  right  in  saying  without  in- 
terruption but  perhaps  there  has  been  now  and  then  interruptions.  My  speech 
tho'  well  taken  did  not  cool  them  and  they  talked  of  writing  a  letter  express- 
ing the  hurt  that  would  arise  from  Commissaries  and  setting  forth  the  great 
benefit  and  advantage  of  Conventions.  Indeed  they  think  all  things  should 
be  done  in  Convention  and  then  matters  will  and  not  till  then  be  fairly  and 
fully  represented  to  our  Superiors.  Your  Lordship  if  such  Letter  does  come 
will  I  am  sure  weigh  well  the  Arguments  with  which  their  opinions  were  sup- 
ported and  with  the  Churches  will  be  the  better  for  this  new  Regulation  and  if 
the  things  appears  just  and  useful  it  will  I  am  sure  be  treated  accordingly.  It 
was  however  my  Duty  to  give  your  Lordship  this  informat"  that  you  may  be 
prepared  and  that  you  may  know  I  am  not  of  the  number  who  want  to  lay 
aside  old  practices. 

I  am,  Your  Lordship's  dutiful  Son  and  Servant, 

RICHARD  PETERS. 


4ii  [1766. 

M\  SMITH  to  the  Bishop  of  London. 


Philidelphia,  Decr  18,  1766. 
My  Lord, 

This  will  be  delivered  to  your  Lordship  by  Mr.  Bryzelius  who  has  had  or- 
dination amonof  the  German  Lutherans  here  and  has  maintained  a  orood  char- 
acter  as  a  preacher  among  them.  He  comes  to  London  for  Episcopal  Ordi- 
nation in  pursuance  of  the  desire  of  the  Society  to  Mr.  Peters  and  myself  to 
send  some  person  capable  of  officiating  in  English  and  German  in  Nova 
Scotia,  and  his  Credentials  are  signed  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Muhlenberg  the 
head  of  the  numerous  Body  of  the  Lutherans  in  this  Province  and  the  Rev- 
erend Dr.  Wrangel,  Commissary  to  the  Swedish  Congregations,  both  men  wor- 
thy of  all  Credit  from  your  Lordship.  Mr.  Bryzelius  is  a  sedate  and  sensible 
man  of  good  education  and  strong  Constitution  and  has  already  acquitted 
himself  with  such  prudence  among  the  Germans  that  we  have  no  doubt  of  his 
future  good  conduct.  He  has  often  preached  among  our  English  Congrega- 
tions to  their  satisfaction. 

There  is  an  extreme  good  disposition  among  the  Lutheran  Clergy  here  to 
be  united  to  our  Church  and  tho'  Mr.  Bryzelius  has  agreed  to  go  to  England 
and  request  what  they  consider  as  the  Re-ordination  yet  this  matter  staggers 
many  of  them  even  as  a  point  of  conscience  seting  aside  the  risque  and  dis- 
tance of  the  Seas. 

Your  Lordship  knows  this  is  no  new  scruple  among  reformed  persuasions 
that  are  desirous  of  Union  with  our  Church.  I  think  the  majority  of  the  great 
Divines  concerned  in  the  comprehension  Scheme  in  King  William's  time 
seemed  to  be  inclined  to  a  concession  that  "  those  who  had  not  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  Episcopal  Ordination  but  had  been  ordained  beyond  Seas  in  any  of 
the  reformed  Churches  be  not  required  to  re-ordination  to  render  them  capa- 
ble of  preferment  in  our  Church."  It  is  said  also  that  there  was  an  act  of 
Q.  Elizabeth  of  the  same  Import  but  whether  intended  as  temporary  in  favor 
of  those  of  our  Nation  ordained  abroad  in  the  former  times  of  trouble  or  for 
what  other  reason  I  am  not  sufficiently  versed  in  these  matters  to  say.  Dr. 
De  Laune  and  Mr.  Whittington  we  are  told  were  both  admitted  to  Livings, 
the  latter  to  the  Deanery  of  Durham  tho'  ordained  at  Geneva  and  had  Judg- 


1766.]  412 

ment  in  Law  that  his  Title  to  his  Living  was  not  thereby  invalidated  for  want 
of  Episcopal  Ordination. 

The  Lutheran  Ministry  in  America  willing  to  conform  to  our  Church  have 
more  to  urge  in  their  own  favor  for  those  I  have  spoken  of  above  being  then 
in  England  had  an  opportunity  of  Ordination  from  Bishops  but  the  latter  have 
not  without  an  expence  and  risque  in  crossing  the  Seas  which  few  will  be  able 
to  undergo. 

Whether  then  anything  could  be  done  to  receive  them  without  this  is  a 
matter  which  must  be  with  your  Lordship  and  our  Superiors  and  which  it  be- 
comes not  u"s  any  further  to  meddle  with  than  just  to  mention  the  facts  and 
the  accession  it  might  bring  to  our  Church. 

My  last  to  your  Lordship  was  by  Mr.  Andrews  and  Mr.  Magan  both  edu- 
cated in  our  College  since  which  another  Mr.  Edmiston  educated  with  them 
has  sailed  for  Maryland  on  the  same  Errand.  I  hope  it  will  appear  to  your 
Lordship  that  they  are  all  well  grounded  in  their  education. 

Your  Lordship  will  give  me  the  Leave  in  all  humble  Duty  to  mention  an 
affair  by  which  our  Church  I  fear  will  suffer  a  little  in  the  sight  of  her  adversa- 
ries here.  One  William  Dunlap  a  Printer  in  this  place  having  also  a  printing 
press  in  Barbadoes  having  gone  to  that  Island  after  his  Business  applied  here 
for  recommendations  for  orders  which  we  could  not  give,  as  he  had  no  educa- 
tion but  reading  and  writing  as  well  as  for  other  reasons.  He  did  however  it 
seems  procure  Letters  from  some  Clergy  in  Barbadoes,  tho'  they  could  not 
have  known  him  above  a  year.  No  doubt  they  thought  and  your  Lordship 
thought  that  in  the  remote  and  new  settled  Islands  a  pious  man  without  the 
learned  languages  &c,  might  be  useful  and  with  that  view  we  hear  your  Lord- 
ship received  him.  Had  he  staid  there  in  the  W.  Indies  it  might  have  been 
all  well.  But  he  is  now  in  Philadelphia  preaching  in  Sl.  Paul's  Church  and  in 
a  place  where  Presbyterian  preachers  have  all  some  Learning,  where  the  Laity 
too  have  learning  and  where  some  thing's  are  remembered  to  his  disadvantage 
particularly  the  affair  of  a  Lottery  which  a  few  years  ago  he  had  and  was  like 
to  have  been  brought  into  Law  trouble  about  it.  His  Printing  Press  too  he 
still  carries  on  and  it  is  seldom  a  "prophet  has  honor  in  his  own  country." 

The  man  always  appeared  to  me  a  simple  inoffensive  man  whom  I  never 
could  have  thought  of  recommending  for  Orders  tho'  I  know  no  harm  of  him 
only  I  wish  he  had  not  come  here. 

I  mentioned  St.  Paul's  Congregation  in  my  last.     No  doubt  your  Lordship 


413  [i766. 

has  received  their  Letters.  A  few  days  ago  Mr.  Whitefield  sent  them  a  letter 
telling  them  that  he  had  prevailed  on  a  Clergyman  (they  say  Mr.  Chapman  of 
Bath  and  Bradford)  to  come  to  them.  Surely  he  will  wait  on  your  Lordship 
tho'  some  here  say  not.  I  have  some  acquaintance  with  him.  Mr.  Evans  after 
preaching  twice  to  them  declined  any  further  Service  and  is  properly  applied 
to  the  Business  of  his  own  Mission.  I  have  yet  little  expectation  of  the  Reg- 
ularity from  that  Congregation  but  I  hope  I  may  be  deceived. 

Your  Lordship's  goodness  will  excuse  the  Freedom  I  have  mentioned  Mr. 
Dunlap's  affair  as  it  is  only  to  yourself,  thinking  it  my  Duty  to  do  it,  because 
if  any  other  persons  should  come  without  Testimonials  from  the  place  where 
they  properly  reside  and  are  known,  Care  may  be  taken  to  inquire  concerning 
them.  I  need  not  mention  that  I  would  not  have  any  public  notice  taken  of 
the  hints  I  have  given  for  Mr.  Dunlap  was  bred  under  Mr.  Franklin  now  in 
England,  in  his  Printing  Office,  and  married  some  Relation  of  his  and  his 
knowledge  of  our  writing  anything  now  might  only  make  differences.  I  hope 
prejudice  will  wear  off  and  Mr.  Dunlap  be  useful  in  some  place  tho'  not  in 
this  Town. 

I  am,  Your  Lordship's  most  dutiful  son  and  Servant, 

WM  SMITH. 


Doctor  SMITH  to  the  Bishop  of  London. 


Philidelphia,  13th  Novr,  1766. 
My  Lord, 

The  last  time  I  did  myself  the  Honor  to  write  to  your  Lordship  was  by 
Mr.  Evans.  I  cannot  now  let  the  Bearers  Mr.  Samuel  Magaw  and  Mr.  John 
Andrews  go  without  a  few  lines.  They  were  educated  and  graduated  under 
me  and  I  hope  on  Examination  will  do  credit  to  our  College.  Their  Letters 
to  Doctor  Burton  mention  their  Destination,  viz :  Dover  and  Lewes  on  Dela- 
ware, and  their  Testimonials  to  your  Lordship  will  certify  their  moral  character. 

Mr.  Macclenachan's  or  S\  Paul's  Congregation  in  this  City  I  believe  will 
now  at  last  write  to  your  Lordship.  When  we  know  that  what  they  write  has 
your  Lordship's  approbation  then  will  be  time  enough  for  us  to  take  notice  of 
them. 


1766.]  4*4 

I  know  they  will  make  strong  professions  of  their  attachment  to  the  Church 
as  they  do  to  us  here.  They  will  complain  that  the  Missionaries  (who  in- 
deed are  but  thin  here  and  have  Business  enough  of  their  own),  do  not  sup- 
ply them.  But  while  their  conduct  contradicts  their  professions,  while  they 
look  only  to  Mr.  Whitefield  to  send  them  a  Minister  and  want  our  Clergy  to 
be  convenient  Instruments  to  keep  them  together  till  they  can  have  a  Minister 
of  this  stamp  to  divide  and  tear  us  to  pieces,  I  cannot  think  we  owe  them  any 
Service. 

They  will  even  profess  to  your  Lordship  that  they  will  have  no  Minister 
without  your  Licence ;  but  they  will  try  their  Minister  first  and  if  they  like 
him  then  they  will  ask  a  Licence.  If  your  Lordship  gives  it  all  will  be  well ; 
if  you  refuse  it  for  reasons  they  do  not  think  sufficient  what  will  they  do  then  ? 
I  have  asked  them  the  question  and  they  say  they  would  not  give  their  man 
up  which  was  the  case  with  Mr.  Macclenachan  whom  they  kept  tho'  refused  a 
Licence  till  at  last  they  quarrelled  with  him. 

This  was  their  conduct  before.  I  hope  they  are  now  coming  to  a  better 
sense  which  we  sincerely  wish  for  and  strive  to  promote.  Your  Lordship  will 
be  able  to  judge  from  their  address  and  we  shall  be  guided  as  in  Duty  bound 
by  your  advice  wch  we  hope  to  have  as  soon  as  possible. 

I  think  after  all  they  will  not  ask  your  Lordship  to  provide  a  minister  for 
them  but  will  still  look  to  the  old  Quarter  tho'  I  hope  I  may  be  deceived  and 
shall  be  glad  to  find  myself  so. 

They  are  now  neither  numerous  nor  of  much  Note  but  are  still  worthy  to 
be  brought  into  the  Bosom  of  our  Church  if  it  can  be  done.  Those  among 
them  who  were  true  Churchmen  have  generally  fallen  off.  The  rest  are  a 
mixt  sort  chiefly  for  an  Independent  Church  of  England — a  strange  sort  of 
Church  indeed  !  But  the  Notion  gains  too  much  Ground  here  even  among 
some  of  the  Clergy. 

I  believe  your  Lordship  will  perceive  something  of  this  kind  not  altogether 
pleasing  if  the  resolves  of  a  majority  of  last  Jersey  Convention  should  come 
before  you  against  Commissaries,  &c,  preferring  thereto  a  kind  of  Presbyte- 
rian or  Synodical  self  delegated  Government  by  Conventions  which  I  fear 
will  end  in  Quarrels  by  every  one's  striving  to  be  uppermost  in  their  turn  and 
never  could  have  been  thought  of,  but  as  an  expedient  for  friendly  converse 
and  advice  till  something  better  could  be  done. 

I  could  not  attend  that  convention  being  the  day  our  College  met  after 


4i5  [1767. 

vacation,  and  the  place  at  80  miles  distance.  I  attended  and  presided  in  the 
year  1 764  when  all  was  harmony  and  the  Design  of  Commissaries,  corres- 
ponding Societies,  &c,  approved  of.  Mr.  Peters  attended  now  and  bore  his 
testimony  against  these  Resolves  as  not  becoming  Missionaries  especially  and 
Servants  of  the  Society  and  perhaps  he  may  give  some  account  of  the  matter 
to  your  Lordship.  He  was  milder,  I  believe,  than  I  should  have  been  for  I 
think  I  should  never  have  sat  among  them  if  they  had  put  one  of  their  own 
number  in  the  Chair  while  a  member  of  the  Society,  a  Clergyman  of  re- 
spectity,  was  present. 

I  am,  Your  Lordship's  dutiful  son  and  Servant, 

WILLIAM  SMITH. 


M\  SMITH  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philada,  May  Ist,  1767. 
Revd  and  Worthy  Sir, 

I  have  by  Col.  Croghan  &  with  him  &  Mr.  Peter's  advice  laid  before  Sr 
Wm  Johnson  a  scheme  something  different,  much  more  extensive  &  what  he 
is  pleased  to  think  better,  than  any  other  for  propagating  the  Gospel  &  the 
arts  of  Civil  life  among  the  Indians.  Col.  Croghan  is  just  returned  from  him 
&  he  has  sent  me  by  him  a  few  lines  to  let  me  know  he  will  write  fully  to  me 
as  soon  as  the  Indians  then  at  his  house  were  departed. 

I  shall  in  my  next  send  you  copies  of  the  papers ;  &  no  doubt  Sr  Wm 
himself  will  write  anew  on  the  subject. 

You  did  well  to  give  Mr.  Sturgeon  the  answer  you  did  for  I  assure  you,  on 
my  own  knowledge  there  are  not  more  than  2  heads  of  families  &  those  of 
but  poor  characters,  that  are  inclined  to  hear  him  in  Oxford  Mission.  Time 
may  make  it  otherwise.  Mr.  Barton  is  the  person  they  desire  but  they  cannot 
yet  encourage  him.  I  have  as  often  as  I  could  be  spared  from  Philadelphia  & 
generally  once  a  fortnight  supplied  Oxford  since  Mr.  Neill's  departure  &  in 
order  to  recover  their  Glebe  lands  rent  their  pews  &  do  other  things  neces- 
sary, have  suffered  them  to  vote  &  enter  me  on  their  Books  as  their  Minister 


1768.]  4i  6 

till  September  next  or  longer  if  it  suits  me  &  the  Society  approves.  But  I 
would  not  have  you  make  any  entry  of  anything  of  this  on  your  public  min- 
utes till  you  hear  from  them  or  me. 

I  am  exceeding  sorry  &  our  Church  suffers  much  by  the  too  easy  admit- 
tance of  some  men  of  indifferent  character  &  no  abilities  into  holy  orders. 
One  Dunlap,  a  Printer  of  this  Town,  who  had  no  education  &  could  scarce 
read  English  has  been  ordained.  One  Spence  or  Spencer  who  was  publickly 
carted  thro'  New  York  &  was  otherwise  of  very  bad  character  to  our  prodig- 
ious astonishment  we  hear  is  also  ordained.  No  Church  on  this  Continent 
will  receive  him. 

One  Shippen  &  one  of  the  name  of  Sayre  both  born  in  this  Town  of  re- 
putable Parents  but  who  have  been  spendthrifts  &  behaved  very  wildly  we 
hear  are  gone  home  for  the  Gown. 

I  know  the  Bp  of  London  is  a  most  worthy  and  venerable  Prelate  but  I 
fear  has  been  deceived  in  some  recommendations.  When  young  men  or  other 
candidates  for  orders  come  from  America  &  bring  nothing  from  any  of  the 
Clergy  of  the  Province  where  they  lived  or  were  born  they  ought  always  to 
be  suspected.  I  do  not  say  my  recommendation  or  any  other  particular  man's 
is  necessary ;  but  surely  that  of  two  or  three  reputable  Clergymen  who  have 
known  the  person  recommended  for  at  least  two  or  three  years  is  requisite  by 
your  own  Rules. 

I  am,  worthy  Sir, 

WM  SMITH. 


M'\   READING  to  the  Secretary, 


(EXTRACT.) 

Apoquiniminck,  June  i,  1767. 
Reverend  worthy  Sir, 

*         *  The  melancholy  catastrophe  which  befel  Messieurs  Wil- 

son and  Giles  who  were  shipwrecked  on  the  coast  in  April  1 766  has  occa- 
sioned a   long  vacancy  in  the  Neighbouring  Mission  of  Kent.     I  have  visited 


4i7  [i767- 

the  Congregation  at  Dover  and  officiated  in  their  Church  as  often  as  was  con- 
sistent with  the  duties  of  my  own  particular  charge  and  am  now  in  a  course 
of  attendance  on  week  days  at  the  Church  in  the  Town  of  Duck  Creek  which 
lies  contiguous  to  Apoquiniminck  and  is  very  conveniently  situated  to  the 
place  where  I  dwell.  I  learn  upon  the  best  enquiry  that  the  people,  though 
they  have  been  destitute  of  a  settled  Minister,  continue  firm  in  their  adher- 
ence to  the  constitution  of  our  most  excellent  Church. 

Revd  worthy  Sir,  &c, 

PHILIP  READING. 


Mr.  NEILL  to  the  Secretary. 


Queen's  Town,  June  ye  9,  1 767. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  two  letters  from  you  ;  the  first  con- 
cerning S'.  Paul's  Church  in  Philadelphia  ;  the  second  about  my  unfortunate 
Nephew,  with  a  donation  of  Ten  pounds  from  the  Society  for  which  I  beg 
leave  to  return  them  my  most  hearty  thanks.  Notwithstanding  there  is  sel- 
dom any  provision  made  in  Europe  for  an  American  Missionary  yet  I  make  no 
doubt  the  Society  will  be  well  pleased  to  hear  that  ample  provision  is  made  for 
any  of  their  old  Servants  in  this  country.  I  have  the  satisfaction  to  acquaint 
them  that  Governor  Sharp  has  been  kind  enough  to  grant  me  an  Induction 
appointing  me  Rector  of  Sl.  Paul's  Parish,  Queen  Ann's  County,  Maryland, 
A  living  worth  three  hundred  pounds  ^  annum  currency  which  is  about  two 
hundred  ^  annum  Sterling,  and  as  I  have  acquired  here  a  considerable  landed 
Estate  I  hope  to  be  able  to  make  the  Society  ample  amends  for  all  past 
favours. 

As  to  my  officiating  in  S\  Paul's  Church  in  Philadelphia  I  have  made  bold 
to  vindicate  my  conduct  to  his  Grace  of  Canterbury  and  shall  only  add  that  the 
prohibitation  of  me  and  of  me  in  particular  has  made  more  noise  and  given 
a  deeper  wound  than  possibly  you  can  Imagine  to  the  Church.  My  licence 
from  my  Lord  Bishop  of  London  gave  me  a  power  to  preach  the  Gospel  in 
Pennsylvania.     I  made  no  Schism  by  preaching  to  Churches  that  were  pro- 


1767.]  418 

vided  for.  All  that  I  have  done  is  that  I  have  preached  the  Gospel  to  a  va- 
cant Church  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  the  Vestry,  with  the  approbation  of 
my  own  people  and  when  it  did  not  interfere  with  the  duties  of  my  Mission. 
If  this  is  criminal  it  is  what  I  never  knew  before.  I  am  sure  I  have  read  my 
Bible  and  all  the  Cannons  and  Constitutions  of  the  Church  of  England  to- 
gether with  all  her  laws  civil  and  Ecclesiastical  and  am  so  blind  hitherto  as  not 
to  be  able  to  see  where  it  is  forbidden  to  preach  to  a  vacant  Church. 

However  if  it  is  a  crime  it  must  be  so  in  other  Clergymen  as  well  as  in  me 
and  why  an  interdiction  was  sent  to  me  and  not  to  the  rest  is  a  general  question 
in  Pennsylvania  but  no  man  can  solve  it.  The  City  Clergy  and  most  of  the 
Missionaries  preached  in  S'.  Paul's  even  in  the  lifetime  of  Mr.  McClenaghan. 
This  I  never  did  till  after  his  death.  Then  circular  letters  were  sent  from  the 
Vestry  to  the  Missries  to  supply  them  in  turn.  The  City  Clergy  heartily  ap- 
proved of  this  measure  &  spoke  to  me  and  others  to  comply,  but  when  they 
found  that  the  invitation  was  to  the  missionaries  and  not  to  themselves,  they 
then  wanted  us  to  refuse  supplying  them  without  they  would  invite  them  also. 
Dr.  Smith  and  Duche  set  all  their  friends  to  work  to  try  to  get  S'.  Paul's  Ves- 
try to  invite  them,  but  all  in  vain.  The  Church  of  S\  Paul's  had  some  invince- 
able  reasons  against  Dr.  Smith.  Mr.  Peters  had  but  just  emerged  from  a 
life  of  Politics  and  pleasure  in  a  continual  round  as  Secretary  to  the  Governor 
for  many  years  and  Mr.  Duche  was  wholly  bent  upon  making  a  powerful  party 
among  them,  in  order  to  destroy  the  Church.  All  the  Town  Clergy  had  one 
point  in  view  and  that  was  either  to  aniholate  the  Church  or  bring  them  under 
the  dominion  of  Christ  Church  Vestry;  as  it  seems  to  be  an  established  maxim 
among  them,  that  if  Philadelphia  was  fifty  Miles  Square  and  had  two  hundred 
Churches  in  it,  they  must  be  all  subject  to  one  Rector  and  one  Vestry.  How 
consistent  this  is  to  the  Eccles.  Government  of  the  Church  in  the  City  of  Lon- 
don or  anywhere  else  where  the  Church  is  established,  I  leave  to  the  judg- 
ment of  my  superiors.  The  people  of  S\  Paul's  have  built  them  a  Church 
and  endowed  it  with  a  handsome  revenue  and  therefore  claim  and  insist  upon 
the  right  of  presentation.  This  right  Christ  Church  enjoyn,  without  any  claim 
of  his  Lordship  of  London.  When  Sl.  Paul's  becomes  vacant  they  claim  no- 
thing more  than  the  right  of  presenting  some  Clergyman  to  the  Lord  Bishop 
of  London.  If  his  Lordship  has  any  Legal  reason  for  setting  aside  their 
choice,  such  as  would  set  aside  a  Clergyman  in  one  of  his  own  Courts,  They 
will  immediately  discharge  him  and  proceed  to  the  choice  of  another.     All 


419  (J767- 

this  is  they  humbly  conceive  coming  as  near  to  the  Eccles.  Laws  as  possible. 
But  to  give  his  Lordship  a  right  to  appoint  whom  he  will  is  a  privilege  his 
Lordship  does  not  enjoy  or  even  insist  on  from  Christ  Church  and  why  he 
should  claim  it  of  them  is  more  than  they  can  possibly  assign  a  reason  for. 

The  opinion  of  the  Philadelphians  is  such  of  Dr.  Smith  that  he  has  never 
been  able  to  procure  himself  to  be  chosen  even  as  an  assistant  in  any  of  their 
Churches.  S\  Paul's  people  were  alarmed  at  the  thoughts  of  giving  up  the 
right  of  presentation  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  as  they  were  afraid  Dr. 
Smith  might  prevail  with  his  Lordship  to  appoint  him  and  their  knowledge  of 
him  was  such  that  no  Clergyman  would  have  been  more  disagreeable. 

These  were  some  of  the  reasons  alledged  to  me  by  the  people  of  Sl.  Paul's 
and  without  the  least  view  of  Interest,  reflecting  upon  the  whole  what  might 
be  best  for  the  Church,  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  preach  for  them  sometimes 
upon  the  Sunday  Evening  with  the  leave  of  my  own  Parish.  All  the  other 
Mission55  thought  so  too  and  thought  that  harsh  measures  never  would  make 
good  Churchmen  of  them.  But  their  refusal  of  Dr.  Smith  was  (in  his  own 
eyes),  an  impardonable  crime  and  therefore  he  was  determined  to  let  them 
feel  the  weight  of  his  resentment.  Had  he  been  admitted  to  preach  in  S\ 
Paul's,  the  Society  would  never  have  been  troubled  upon  this  head. 

When  the  Mission'65  came  in  turn  to  preach  at  S'.  Paul's  Dr.  Smith  threat- 
ened them  immediately  with  the  resentment  of  the  Society  without  he  would 
be  taken  in  amongst  the  rest.  This  condition  could  not  be  obtained.  Mess5. 
Peters  and  Duche  harped  upon  the  same  string  but  all  in  vain.  What  a  mor- 
tification to  find  the  reputation  of  the  Mission165  superior  to  their  own  !  Many 
of  the  Mission165  were  afraid  and  after  they  came  to  Town  to  officiate  went 
home  again  without  doing  of  it. 

Dr.  Smith  threatened  me  in  the  same  manner.  I  told  him  he  was  neither 
Bishop,  Commissary  nor  deputy  Agent  for  a  corresponding  Society,  for  one 
or  other  of  which  offices  he  had  been  waiting  many  years,  consequently  he 
had  no  power  over  me  &  that  the  scurility  of  his  language  upon  that  occasion 
was  no  mark  of  his  being  qualified  for  any  of  the  above  places.  That  the 
Society  had  often  approved  of  their  Missionaries  preaching  occasionally  in 
Presbyterian  and  Baptist  meeting  houses,  consequently  could  have  no  objec- 
tion to  their  Missionary  preaching  in  a  Church. 

What  Dr.  Smith  and  his  Philadelphia  Breth"  have  wrote  home  upon  this 
occasion  I  know  not  nor  does  it  concern  me  at  this  time  any  otherwise  than  as 


1 767.]  420 

I  am  heartily  sorry  to  find  that  the  Venerable  Body  so  grossly  abused  and  im- 
posed upon  by  vile  partial  misrepresentations  which  naturally  brings  them  into 
disrepute  in  the  Colonies  where  their  lustre  should  be  the  most  conspicuous. 

When  my  Lord  Arch  Bishop  of  Canterbury  signified  his  disapprobation 
of  my  preaching  in  Sl.  Paul's  in  a  Letter  to  Dr.  Smith,  He  delivered  his  Grace  s 
commands  with  such  an  arbitrary  tone  that  I  realy  thought  he  was  going  to 
reinforce  them  with  a  Cudgel.  I  asked  him  for  a  copy  of  what  he  had  wrote 
to  England  that  I  might  be  enabled  to  make  my  vindication.  This  he  refused. 
However  I  make  no  doubt  he  has  confined  himself  as  strictly  to  truth  as  he 
did  when  he  drew  up  the  Memorial  of  his  wonderful  services  in  Pennsylvania 
and  got  some  of  the  good  Bishops  in  England  to  sign  it  and  send  it  to  the 
University  of  Oxford  in  order  to  obtain  his  Drs.  Degree.  Facts  that  were 
just  as  true — many  of  them — as  the  History  of  Don  Quixote. 

These  intollorable  measures  prevailed  with  me  at  last  to  accept  of  an  offer 
Governor  Sharpe  had  made  me  long  before  of  removing  into  Mary  Land 
where  the  Church  is  established  and  no  man  can  be  ruined  by  partial  infor- 
mation. 

Since  I  came  here  the  Church  of  S'.  Paul's  in  Philadelphia  as  a  Testimony 
of  their  regard  transmitted  to  me  a  very  handsome  piece  of  plate  with  the 
following  inscription  neatly  engraved — "  The  Gift  of  the  Church  of  S'.  Paul's 
in  Philadelphia,  To  the  Reverend  Mr.  Hugh  Neill  in  gratitude  for  his  disinter- 
ested ministerial  services  to  that  Church  A.D.  1766."  I  hope  my  Lord  Bishop 
of  London  will  approve  of  my  removal  and  signify  his  approbation  whenever 
it  suits  his  conveniency.  We  have  here  an  Excell'  Governor  which  answers 
all  the  ends  of  a  Bishop  except  in  confering  orders  and  confirmation.  I  wish 
he  had  this  part  of  the  Episcopal  authority  confirmed  upon  him.  He  would 
make  as  good  a  Bishop  as  we  could  wish  for. 

If  there  is  any  information  wanting  from  this  province  in  order  to  assist 
the  Venerable  Society  in  their  most  benevolent  undertakings  I  shall  not  only 
be  led  by  duty  but  I  incline  at  all  times  to  give  them  the  best  accounts  I  can. 
If  they  choose  to  make  use  of  me  no  one  in  the  world  will  be  more  ready  to 
execute  their  commands  or  have  a  more  grateful  sense  of  past  favors  than 

Revd  Sir,  &c, 

HUGH    NEILL. 


42i  [1767. 

Mr.  SMITH  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philad*  Sepf  1,  1767. 
Revd  &  worthy  Sir, 

I  have  in  several  late  Letters  informed  you  that  since  Mr.  Neill's  departure 
in  October  last  I  have  twice  in  three  weeks  supplied  the  Mission  at  Oxford  in 
order  to  prevent  that  old  and  respectable  Mission  from  dwindling  away  and  as 
the  act  of  our  Assembly  which  was  made  for  selling  the  old  and  purchasing 
the  New  Glebe  required  that  there  should  be  a  Minister  to  constitute  a  Vestry 
&  do  any  legal  act,  I  was  obliged  last  February  to  let  the  people  nominate  me 
their  Minister  in  order  that  we  might  proceed  to  get  possession  of  the  Glebe 
for  the  use  of  the  Church  and  I  accordingly  consented  to  supply  them  for  one 
year  or  till  you  appointed  another  unless  so  far  as  Mr.  Peters's  indisposition 
might  reqrire  my  assistance  in  Town  which  has  been  but  seldom  till  within 
these  few  weeks  past. 

I  have  got  possession  of  the  Glebe  &  have  leased  it  for  one  year  to  com- 
mence from  the  first  of  June  last  but  this  year's  rent  will  not  be  sufficient  to 
make  the  necessary  repairs  to  the  house  and  fences  which  are  suffered  to  go 
to  great  ruin.  I  have  also  let  out  the  Pews  and  done  everything  to  make  the 
Mission  worth  Mr.  Barton's  acceptance  who  has  an  unanimous  invitation  from 
the  people.  He  was  down  here  last  week  but  has  not  given  his  answer 
whether  he  will  accept  as  he  fears  he  will  change  for  the  worse. 

In  the  meantime  I  shall  give  them  what  help  I  can  but  as  nothing  can  be 
got  this  first  year  from  the  Pews  nor  from  the  Glebe  Mr.  Neill's  Tenant  being 
insolvent,  I  shall  receive  nothing  and  shall  be  considerably  out  of  Pocket  in 
my  frequent  visits,  besides  Sundays  unless  the  Society  should  be  pleased 
to  give  me  some  consideration  as  they  did  Dr.  Cooper  for  supplying  West 
Chester. 

I  find  by  a  Letter  from  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  that  Dr.  Franklin  re- 
commended Mr.  Spencer  for  Orders  which  is  astonishing  as  he  well  knew  the 
Shameful  Character  he  bore  at  New  York.  The  same  Dr.  Franklin  recom- 
mended, as  I  am  told,  one  Mr.  Dunlap  a  Printer  who  is  constantly  thrown  in 


I767-]  422 

our  dish  by  the  Presbyterians,  &  you  say  he  has  recommended  Mr.  Sturgeon 
to  Oxford  where  I  assure  you  nobody  would  go  to  hear  him  nor  would  they 
receive  him  ;  so  that  you  see  I  had  some  reasons  to  give  you  hints  concerning 
that  Gentleman's  recommendations  who  may  have  political,  but  is  not  like  to 
have  religious,  motives  for  them. 

I  am,  Revd  and  Worthy  Sir,  &c., 

WM  SMITH. 


M\    THOMSON  to  the  Secretary, 


(EXTRACT.) 

Carlisle,  20th  Octr,  1 767. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  *  I  find  it  almost  impossible  to  give  a  just  and  true  account 
of  the  number  of  Inhabitants  within  the  bounds  of  this  Mission,  neither  the 
number  of  Dissenters  of  all  sorts  ;  the  people  having  lately  increased  so  much 
upon  our  Western  frontiers  &  no  method  yet  taken  by  the  County  of  laying 
them  out  in  districts  or  Townships.  I  therefore  pray  the  Venble  Society  to 
pardon  my  not  ascertaining  their  numbers  in  my  Notitia  Parochialis. 

I  am,  Revd  S  r, 

WM  THOMSON. 


M\   CRAIG  to  the  Society. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Chester,  Novr.    7th,  1767. 
Very  Revd  Sir, 

*  *       I  wish  I  could  boast  as  some  do  of  ye  great  and  flourishing 

state  of  their  Mission.      I  grant  that  new  erected  Missions  may  hold  it  for  a 


423  [1767. 

while,  nay,  may  become  next  to  an  establishment  by  that  excellent  plan  ye  So- 
ciety has  gone  upon  of  late  in  obliging  some  of  ye  principal  Members  to  give 
Bonds  for  performance  of  such  &  such  things  for  the  better  accommodation 
of  ye  Missionary.  This  makes  ye  members  exert  themselves  to  promote  the 
interest  of  ye  Chh.  &  by  using  their  influence  of  persuasion  to  gain  over 
friends  and  neighbours.  They  are  thereby  enabled  to  make  good  their  en- 
gagements with  ye  Society  and  I  wonder  why  the  same  rule  is  not  extended 
towards  ye  older  Missions  in  all  the  Provinces,  for  I  believe  it  would  be  one  & 
ye  only  way  to  make  them  exert  themselves  properly  and  not  to  throw  all  on 
the  Society's  bounty. 

I  am  very  sorry  to  find  by  ye  pubc  prints  that  it  is  determined  &  a  point 
agreed  on  all  sides  never  to  send  Bishops  to  America.  If  so  ye  whole  rev- 
enue of  ye  established  Church  as  well  as  y'  of  ye  Dissenters  of  all  denomina- 
tions in  Britain  and  Ireland  will  be  far  from  answering  ye  demands  of  Mission- 
aries on  this  vast  continent,  for  I  am  sure  where  ye  Society  has  one  there  are 
ten  wanted  if  they  could  bear  the  expence,  which  we  know  they  cannot ; 
whereas  were  Bps.  in  America  a  great  deal  would  be  saved.  Besides  that 
unity  of  an  establishment  in  ye  Chh.  would  naturally  (in  time)  bring  about  a 
unity  in  ye  state,  and  without  an  establishment  of  some  national  Chh.  the  state 
will  ever  be  lyable  to  frequent  convulsions  &  in  ye  end  prove  fatal  to  one 
party  or  another.  I  am  certain  ye  Chh.  of  England  has  observed  her  loyalty 
in  ye  worst  of  times  in  ye  mother  country  and  why  not  ye  same  in  ye  Colonies  of 
America  were  she  properly  invest,  then  would  she  gain  strength  &  maugere 
opposition,  whereas  a  Churchman  in  ye  Colonies  has  no  more  right  to  any  post 
of  honour  or  profit  than  an  anabaptist  or  Quaker,  nay,  some  times  not  so  much. 
There  is  likewise  a  very  pernicious  practice  prevails  of  admitting  persons 
from  America  into  holy  orders  without  ye  necessary  testimonials  of  their  qual- 
ifications and  morals  for  at  least  3  years  last  past  &  yl  signed  by  3  clergymen 
of  ye  province  from  whence  they  come.  This  excellent  rule  is  in  some  meas- 
ure laid  aside  as  well  as  yl  direction  of  laying  hands  suddenly  on  no  man,  & 
lay  recommendations  seem  too  much  in  vogue  to  ye  no  small  scandal  of  our 
Chh. ;  and  if  it  is  true  y'  I  hear  of  an  infamous  fellow  from  N.  York  being 
ordained  I'm  certain  yl  he  who  would  recommend  such  an  odious  creature, 
void  ot  either  virtue  or  learning,  must  be  designedly  one  of  the  greatest  ene- 
mies of  our  Chh.  and  have  nothing  in  view  but  to  render  her  despicable  by 
imposing  on  her  Governors.     For  such  make  their  braggs  very  often  they  can 


1767.]  424 

have  any  fellow  ordained  in  ye  Chh.  of  England  by  only  writing  a  few  lines  of 
recommendation  to  such  a  Bp.  of  my  acquaintance  who  will  presently  ordain 
him  without  asking  him  many  questions.  Should  this  be  the  case  (which  I 
hope  it  is  not),  to  what  purpose  are  Seminaries  of  learning,  &c.,  to  qualify 
men  for  H.  orders. 

But  I  hope  this  practice  of  Lay  recommendations  will  not  always  prevail 
especially  from  America,  &  where  it  has  will  do  so  no  more.  All  this  would 
be  prevented  had  we  Bps  in  America,  three  at  least. 

Very  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

GEO.  CRAIG. 


M .  POST  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  November  17th,  1767. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  have  here  almost  in  everything  succeeded  beyond  my  wishes  save  in  the 
collecting  of  money  for  building  a  Church  and  School.  The  rich  people  in 
Philadelphia  complain  of  want  of  money  as  much  as  in  other  countries  the 
poor,  so  that  I  have  dropt  the  scheme  thinking  that  in  the  meanwhile  if  we 
cannot  have  a  house  for  the  Lord  we  may  convene  His  living  temples  under  a 
tent  or  shed.  It  will  certainly  be  a  blessing  and  comfort  to  me  to  receive  by 
your  hands  the  Society's  directions  and  advice  in  the  service  I  am  going  to 
enter  upon  and  shall  from  time  to  time  communicate  to  you  as  well  the  good 
successes  as  the  disappointments  I  shall  meet  with  in  my  undertakings. 
Reverend  Sir,  &c., 

CHRISTIAN  FREDERICK  POST. 


425  [1768. 

M\  PETERS  and  Others  to  the  Bishop  of  London. 


Philadelphia,  April  22nd,  1768. 
My  Lord, 

We  have  presumed  to  address  your  Lordship  concerning  two  hopeful 
young  Gentlemen  who  are  desirous  of  presenting  themselves  to  your  Lord- 
ship for  Holy  Orders,  viz :  Mr.  John  Montgomery  and  Mr.  Thomas  Coombe. 
They  have  both  had  a  regular  education  in  our  College,  the  former  having 
been  about  5  years  in  it,  and  the  latter  more  than  10  years.  Both  have  taken 
their  Bachelor's  Degree  and  this  Summer  will  be  of  standing  for  and  admit- 
ted to  their  Master's  Degree. 

We  have  great  want  of  Clergymen  in  these  parts  and  both  the  young 
Gentlemen  could  be  immediately  provided  for.  Mr.  Montgomery,  if  the  So- 
ciety approve  of  it,  has  an  opportunity  of  being  settled  in  the  Mission  of  Ox- 
ford which  with  the  approbation  of  the  Society  Dr.  Smith  hath  supplied  once 
ever}-  Fortnight  since  Mr.  Neill  left  it  in  October  1766  and  which  he  would  be 
glad  to  be  released  from  the  fatigue  of  as  soon  as  convenient.  Mr.  Coombe 
can  be  provided  for  several  ways  and  both  would  have  been  recommended 
Home  this  Summer  if  they  were  of  the  age  required.  But  in  this  matter 
neither  they  nor  we  would  dissemble  with  your  Lordship.  Mr.  Montgomery 
is  twenty-two  years  next  August  and  Mr.  Coombe  twenty-one  about  the  same 
time  tho'  each  of  them  will  be  a  year  older  before  they  can  return  to  America 
should  they  be  allowed  to  embark  from  hence  next  September. 

Our  humble  request  to  your  Lordship  therefore  is  to  know  by  a  few  lines 
as  soon  as  possible  "  Whether  this  want  of  the  full  age  might  not  be  dispensed 
with  in  regard  to  America  without  being  made  a  hurtful  Precedent  to  others 
who  have  not  so  well  improved  their  time.  We  know  it  will  subject  us  to  dis- 
agreeable solicitations  but  we  have  the  resolution  'tis  hoped  to  withstand  them 
where  there  may  not  be  equal  merit. 

If  the  rule  can  in  any  case  be  dispensed  with  on  account  of  the  necessities 
of  the  Church  here  we  would  recommend  it  in  this  case,  for  both  the  Gen- 
tlemen and  three  others  nearly  of  their  age  have  for  two  winters  past  at- 
tended Divinity  Lectures  under  Dr.  Smith  and  have  acquitted  themselves  so 
well  in  delivering  their  Sunday  Evening  Exercises  that  seldom  fewer  than  a 


1768.]  426 

thousand  persons  have  attended  to  hear  them.  They  are  well  versed  in  Com- 
position and  are  excellent  Speakers,  Mr.  Coombe  in  particular  being  admired 
for  his  Talent  in  this  way,  nor  have  we  the  least  Doubt  of  their  prudence  and 
shall  be  ready  to  give  as  we  think  they  will  be  ready  to  receive  our  best  ad- 
vice at  their  first  setting  out  in  Life. 

We  say  nothing  of  their  accomplishments  in  the  Languages  and  liberal 
Sciences  as  we  are  persuaded  they  will  give  your  Lordship  satisfaction  in  that 
and  no  way  sink  in  your  opinion  the  favorable  Idea  you  have  been  pleased  to 
form  concerning  the  education  of  such  Youth  as  have  come  already  under 
your  Lordship's  notice  from  the  College  of  this  City. 

We  submit  the  whole  to  your  Lordship's  Wisdom  and  are, 
Your  Lordship's  most  dutiful  sons  &  Servants, 

Richard  Peters, 
William  Smith, 
Jacob  Duche. 

P.  S.  What  is  particularly  desired  is  whether  they  may  be  permitted  to 
come  home  next  Fall,  viz :  about  September  or  whether  they  must  be  obliged 
to  wait  longer  and  how  long  so  as  to  have  Priest's  Orders  for  they  cannot 
well  afford  the  expence  or  time  for  two  Voyages  to  London. 

April  24th,  1768. 
To  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  : 

Since  writing  the  above  it  hath  been  rumoured  that  one  Mr.  Chambers, 
born  in  this  Town,  educated  a  Presbyterian  in  New  Jersey  College,  hath  gone 
into  Maryland  got  a  title  to  a  Curacy  from  one  Adams,  I  think,  and  some  of 
the  Maryland  Clergy  to  sign  his  Credentials,  deceaved  I  suppose  by  his  Col- 
lege Certificate  which  is  full ;  but  it  is  three  years  since  he  left  College  and  they 
know  nothing  of  Him  during  that  time  he  having  been  in  this  province,  nor 
yet  the  Cause  of  his  leaving  the  Presbyterians,  nor  a  very  high  charge  against 
him  at  Lancaster  about  a  month  ago  in  this  Province  which  made  him  quit 
that  and  go  to  Maryland,  as  the  Revd  Mr.  Barton  the  Society's  Missionary 
there  informed  me.  This,  if  true,  must  render  him  wholly  unworthy  of  Holy 
Orders.  I  have  wrote  to  him  not  to  venture  to  embark  till  this  is  cleared  up 
but  if  he  is  gone  I  pray  your  Lordship  may  suspend  doing  anything  concern- 
ing Him  and  you  shall  have  an  Authentic  Account  which  is  a  charge  of  hav- 


427  [1768. 

ing  a  Bastard,  the  Truth  or  untruth  of  which  your  Lordship  shall  receive  by  a 

letter  in  less  than  two  weeks  after  this  date.     In  any  case  his  Testimonials 

should  have  been  from  this  Province  for  he  is  an  entire  stranger  in  the  place 

where  he  now  is. 

W.  SMITH. 


D\   SMITH  to    the  Secretary, 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  May  6th,  1768. 
Dear  and  Worthy  Sir, 

*  *  The  Presbyterians  from  one  end  of  the  Continent  to  the 
other  are  attacking  the  Church  about  American  Bishops.  I  never  liked  ap- 
pealing to  the  publick  here  about  it  as  it  was  an  appeal  coram  non  Judice,  nor 
did  I  like  the  two  great  zeal  of  our  late  Jersey  conventions,  for  which  they 
thought  me  too  cold.  However  Dr.  Chandler's  Pamphlet,  tho'  too  long  and 
sometimes  foreign  to  the  purpose  in  it,  is  on  the  whole  such  as  he  can  sup- 
port, and  tho'  I  wish  he  had  not  published  it  yet  it  is  well  defensible  and  he 
shall  not  be  left  to  stand  alone  for  the  virulence  of  his  antagonists  is  now  not 
to  be  borne. 

I  am,  Worthy  Sir,  &c., 

WM  SMITH. 


D\  SMITH  to  the  Bishop  of  London. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  May  6th,  1768. 
My  Lord, 

In  a  postscript  to  a  Letter  which  I  wrote  to  your  Lordship  about  ten  days 

ago  I  mentioned  with  sorrow  the  information  I  had  that  one  Chambers  born 


^ 


1768.]  428 

in  this  City  and  educated  a  Presbyterian  in  New  Jersey  College,  who  had  left 
Lancaster  in  this  Province  on  a  charge  of  having  a  Bastard  had  gone  into 
Maryland  and  got  a  title  to  a  curacy  from  one  Adams  with  a  certificate  to 
your  Lordship  from  some  Maryland  Clergy,  none  of  whom  could  have  known 
him  above  a  fortnight. 

In  that  letter  I  promised  your  Lordship  that  I  would  get  the  truth  of  the 
story  from  the  Reverend  Mr.  Barton  the  Society's  worthy  Missionary  at  Lan- 
caster, and  write  as  soon  as  I  received  it  adding  a  humble  request  that  your 
Lordship  would  suspend  doing  anything  in  Chambers's  affair  till  you  should 
hear  further. 

I  have  since  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Barton  with  a  Deposition  in  the 
affair  from  one  of  the  Magistrates  of  Lancaster  Borough  and  find  the  story 
too  true.  The  deposition  is  that  of  Mary  Kalleren  before  James  Bickham, 
Esquire,  dated  16th  Feby,  1768,  who  does  depose  and  say,  &c.,  "That  the 
Bastard  child  wherewith  she  is  pregnant  was  begotten  upon  her  by  Joseph 
Chambers,  late  of  Lancaster,  School  master,  who  is  the  Father  thereof  and 
none  else."     On  this  Deposition  Chambers  ran  off  from  Lancaster. 

Mr.  Barton  in  his  letter  of  May  3d  writes  thus:  "I  am  really  sorry  to  hear 
Chambers  has  got  off;  the  Church  will  be  ruined  by  such  things.  I  enclose 
you  the  Deposition  taken  before  Mr.  Bickham.  The  Girl  is  since  delivered 
and  declared  that  Chambers  and  none  else  was  the  Father  of  her  child.  This 
she  did  in  the  Pains  and  Perils  of  Child  Birth  which  the  Law  deems  the 
highest  Testimony  to  convict  a  man  of  the  crime  of  Bastardy.  Chambers, 
after  he  went  off  likewise  wrote  to  Mrs.  Stout,  whose  Servant  the  Girl  is,  to 
'provide  her  with  Lodging,  necessaries,  &c.,'  for  all  which  he  would  pay.  But 
had  Mrs.  Stout  taken  his  word  she  would  have  been  left  in  the  Lurch  for  this 
as  well  as  he  has  done  for  his  Board,  &c. 

"Capt.  Singleton  from  Newark  (where  Chambers  lived  before),  is  here  at 
present  and  says  this  is  not  the  first  crime  of  the  sort  in  him.  In  short  he  is 
a  person  of  no  valuable  qualifications,  has  read  nothing  and  can  scarce  write 
three  lines  correctly.  His  passions  are  violent  and  his  conceit  insufferable. 
He  seems  to  prefer  a  life  of  Dissipation  to  any  thing  serious  and  discovers  a 
fondness  for  Drink,  Gaming  and  Low  Company.  If  these  charges  require 
proof  they  may  be  soon  had.  I  beseech  you  send  off  Duplicates  and  even 
Triplicates  of  Letters  to  the  Bishop,  else  he  will  carry  his  point,  as  he  is  a 
bold,  importunate  man." 


429  [i768. 

I  think,  my  Lord,  a  worse  Character  can  hardly  be  given.  I  pray  God 
this  may  come  time  enough  to  your  Lordship's  hand  and  I  cannot  but  repeat 
what  I  once  before  took  the  liberty  humbly  to  suggest  that  whenever  a  Man 
comes  recommended  from  any  other  Province  or  place  but  where  he  last 
resided,  or  where  the  Clergy  who  recommended  do  not  certify  three  years' 
personal  knowledge  there  ought  always  to  be  suspicion.  I  wish  I  knew  what 
method  your  Lordship  would  take  to  prevent  Impositions  of  this  sort.  I  know 
of  none  but  requiring  the  hands  of  some  two  or  more  Clergymen  in  each 
province  whom  your  Lordship  can  confide  in  as  indispensably  necessary  in 
each  Certificate  from  that  Province.  Perhaps  Chambers  may  go  to  some 
other  Bishop  but  I  hope  your  Lordship  will  take  care  they  be  apprized  of 
him.  *         *  * 

I  wrote  your  Lordship  that  I  had  much  reason  to  fear  the  extraordinary 
warmth  of  the  Jersey  Conventions  might  do  hurt.  Their  addresses  and  Dr. 
Chandler's  appeal  about  Bishops  for  America  tho'  in  the  main  well  done  have 
raised  a  great  Flame.  There  is  nothing  but  writing  in  every  Newspaper.  I 
could  not  approve  of  any  Appeals  to  the  Public  here  about  Bishops  as  think- 
ing such  Appeals  Coram  non  Jadice  and  only  provoking  Strife.  However  the 
Church  here  is  now  very  rudely  treated  by  a  malevolent  set  of  Writers  and 
tho'  I  could  have  wished  our  side  had  not  given  any  cause  yet  they  must  not 
be  left  unsupported,  and  I  am  determined  now  to  contribute  my  mite  for 
great  openings  are  given  to  detect  their  shameful  misrepresentations.  The 
time  does  not  allow  me  to  add  more  but  only  to  beg  leave  to  subscribe 
myself, 

Your  Lordship's  most  dutiful  son  and  Servant, 

WM  SMITH. 


M\    THOMSON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Carlisle,  25th  June,  1768. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  our  little  Church  in  the  Town  of 
Carlisle  is  almost  finished  and  I  have  the  greatest  reason  to  believe  every 


1768.]  43Q 

thing  will  be  done  to  it,  which  will  be  necessary  for  the  decent  performance 
of  Divine  service  therein  before  the  next  Winter  approaches.  The  people  of 
York  Town  propose  to  prepare  materials  this  summer  &  fall  for  erecting  a 
commodious  Church  in  that  place  which  they  intend  to  carry  into  execution 
next  Spring. 

I  have  regularly  officiated  at  my  Churches  the  preceding  eight  months 
where  the  people  have  given  due  attendance  &  behav'd  with  great  decency 
and  good  order.  The  extensiveness  of  my  Mission,  the  great  cold  in  Winter 
and  extreme  heat  in  Summer  renders  my  duty  great  and  very  fatiguing. 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

WM  THOMSON. 


M\  ANDREWS  to  the  Secretary, 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philada,  Augst  4,  I  768. 
Revd  Sir, 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  I  live  in  great  harmony  with  the 
people  of  my  Mission  and  have  some  reason  to  hope  that  my  labours  among 
them  will  not  be  wholly  useless.  They  are  of  a  lively,  apt  disposition,  very 
capable  of  improvement  and  what  is  more  to  their  honor  they  are  regular  in 
their  behaviour,  frugal  and  industrious.  In  a  proper  sense  of  religion  indeed 
they  appear  somewhat  deficient  which  cannot  seem  strange  when  it  is  consid- 
ered how  long  they  have  been  without  the  worship  of  God  performed  among 
them  or  at  least  without  the  performance  of  it  in  that  manner  which  they 
approve  and  which  they  would  chuse  to  attend.  Their  great  misfortune  is  to 
be  a  people  without  learning,  which  proceeds  altogether  from  their  extreme 
poverty.  There  is  not  a  Grammar  School  within  the  County  and  it  is 
a  thing  extremely  rare  to  meet  with  a  man  who  can  write  a  tolerable  hand  or 
spell  with  propriety  the  most  common  words  in  the  English  Language.  Of 
the  inconvenience  of  such  a  situation  many  of  them  seem  sufficiently  sensible 
but  at  the  same  time  are  unable  to  remove  it.  In  the  Town  of  Lewes  several 
attempts  have  been  made  to  promote  a  Latin  School  and  a  genteel  house  for 


43i  [1768. 

the  purpose  has  been  erected.  But  experience  soon  convinced  the  undertakers 
that  their  number  was  too  small  and  too  weak  to  supply  for  any  length  of 
time  such  a  Salary  as  would  be  worthy  the  acceptance  of  a  man  duly  qualified. 
Under  these  circumstances  without  any  public  fund  or  other  dependance  of 
that  kind,  their  attempts  have  hitherto  proved  unsuccessful. 

I  have  made  inquiries  concerning  the  Secretary's  Library  in  this  Mission, 
but  have  not  been  able  to  find  above  7  or  8  volumes.  No  Missionary  resid- 
ing here  for  so  many  years,  the  Books  have  past  from  one  hand  to  another 
till  at  length  they  are  either  lost  or  destroyed. 

On  Christmas  last  I  administered  the  Sacrament  at  S1.  Peter's  in  Lewes  to 
16  Communicants.  On  Easter  at  Sl.  George's  near  Indian  River  to  34.  On 
Whitsunday  at  Sl.  Mathew's  near  Cedar  Creek  to  21.  Since  my  last  letter 
dated  in  Novr  I  have  baptized  75  white  &  2  black  children  and  1  Adult. 

I  have  not  yet  received  any  answer  to  my  last  Letter  neither  have  the 
Anniversary  Sermons  yet  arrived,  tho'  they  are  every  day  expected  by  favor 

of  Budden. 

And  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

JOHN  ANDREWS. 


Mr.   SMITH  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  August  20,  1768. 
Dear  &  worthy  Sir, 

*  *  *  I  have  an  opportunity  of  preaching  a  great  many  times 
&  baptizing  numbers  of  children  at  a  place  50  miles  from  any  settled  Minis- 
ter and  hardly  ever  visited  but  when  I  see  them.  Great  numbers  of  them  are 
Church  people  that  have  come  from  the  back  of  Maryland,  &  the  settlement 
of  Religion  in  that  part  of  the  Country  will  soon  be  an  object  worthy  of  the 
Society's  Notice. 

I  am  in  haste,  Dear  &  worthy  Sir,  &c, 

WM  SMITH. 


1768.]  432 

Rev.  Mr.  PETERS  to  the  Bishop  of  London. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  30th  Aug',  1 768. 
My  much  honored  Lord, 

It  is  not  unknown  to  your  Lordship  that  the  Church  of  England  in  the 
province  has  been  always  in  connexion  with  the  Swedish  Churches,  and  that 
the  Missionaries  sent  from  Sweden  who  have,  except  in  a  very  few  Instances, 
been  persons  of  eminent  Learning  and  Piety  have  at  all  times  given  us  a  very 
ready  assistance  and  done  us  many  substantial  services. 

The  Reverend  Dr.  Wrangel,  whom  I  have  made  bearer  of  this  Letter  on 
purpose  to  introduce  him  to  your  Lordship,  is  of  the  first  rank  amongst  these 
Missionaries  and  is  now  on  his  return  to  Sweden  after  an  absence  of  nine 
years.  Before  he  came  here  he  was  in  high  esteem  with  the  King  of  Sweden 
and  is  one  of  his  Majesty's  Domestic  Chaplains. 

His  Majesty  indeed  appointed  him  Commissary  of  the  Swedish  Churches 
here  and  Rector  of  the  Old  Swedish  Church  at  Wicaco  in  the  Neighbourhood 
of  this  City  as  a  Parochial  Pastor.  I  can  truly  say  he  has  been  indefatigable. 
He  has  given  very  instructive  Lectures  on  Week  days  that  have  spread  among 
his  people  a  good  knowledge  of  religious  principles,  and  as  Commissary  it 
has  been  his  constant  care  to  visit  all  the  Churches,  tho'  they  are  at  great  dis- 
tances from  one  another,  carefully,  and  wherever  he  could  he  has  given 
encouragement  to  settle  regular  and  pious  Ministers  and  has  actually  built 
Churches  and  brought  into  Church  Communion  numbers  of  people  who  were 
without  any  publick  worship. 

He  knows  all  the  affairs  of  this  Province  and  the  state  of  Religion  and  the 
situation  of  our  own  and  the  German  Churches  and  I  most  humbly  and  earn- 
estly recommend  it  to  your  Lordship  to  enter  into  free  and  full  conversation 
with  him.  The  Presbyterians  under  a  pretence  of  answering  Dr.  Chandler 
have  gone  into  many  abusive  publications  and  have  raised  against  them  all 
other  Churches  in  common  from  the  bitterness  and  vengeance  that  appears 
in  their  writings.  As  they  are  numerous,  all  other  persuasions  begin  to  dread 
and  unite  against  them  as  people  who  have  more  tyranny  in  their  System  and 


433  [i768. 

Temper  than  any  other  Church  whatever.  Dr.  Wrangel  wants  to  take  a  just 
advantage  of  this  general  antipathy  to  the  Presbyterians  and  to  unite  the 
great  body  of  Lutherans  and  Swedes  with  the  Church  of  England  who,  you 
know,  are  but  few  and  in  mean  circumstances  in  this  Province,  but  were  they 
united  with  the  German  Lutherans  we  should  both  become  respectable.  This 
Dr.  Smith  and  I  think  may  be  done  by  the  means  of  our  Academy.  We  might 
have  a  professorship  of  Divinity  opened  in  it  wherein  German  and  English 
youth  might  be  educated,  and  by  having  both  Languages  as  a  part  of  their 
Education  they  might  preach  both  in  German  and  English  in  such  places 
where  there  is  a  mixture  of  both  Nations.  This  would  conciliate  us  all  and 
make  us  live  and  love  as  one  Nation.  It  is  an  happy  thought,  I  wish  your 
Lordship  would  talk  with  Dr.  Wrangel  and  encourage  it  all  you  can.  I  have 
wrote  to  the  two  Arch  Bishops  on  this  head  and  beg  they  may  consider  this 
matter  well  together  with  your  Lordship.  I  am  sure  there  is  now  a  good 
opportunity  of  bringing  this  desirable  thing  to  a  good  issue. 

I  am,  your  Lordship's  most  dutiful  son  and  Servant, 

RICHARD  PETERS. 


M\  BARTON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  October  18,  1768. 
Revd  Sir, 

An  itinerant  Missionary  such  as  I  had  the  honor  of  proposing  to  the 
Society  might  do  infinite  good  by  keeping  up  a  sense  of  religion  in  those 
Missions  &  Congregations  till  kind  Providence  &  the  benevolence  of  our 
Fellow  Christians  shall  enable  the  Venerable  Society  to  make  some  better 
provision  for  them.  I  pray  God  to  put  it  into  the  heart  of  some  worthy  per- 
son to  offer  himself  for  this  service. 

The  people  of  North  Carolina  continue  to  complain  of  the  want  of  Mis 
sionarys.     I  have  lately  received  a  list  of  the  Church  people  in  Rowan  County 
which  amount  to  1500.     It  is  certain  that  there  are  many  Churches  with  very 


1768.]  434 

large  Congregations  in  that  Province  utterly  destitute  of  any  public  religious 
worship.  True  it  is  that  there  are  Troops  of  Presbyterian  Ministers  continu- 
ally travelling  thro'  that  country  &  setting  up  meetings  in  every  corner  of  it. 
But  the  cruel  opposition  which  those  people  have  lately  given  to  the  Church 
has  been  such  that  her  members  cannot  with  any  comfort,  join  their  religious 
Assemblies,  even  where  they  have  no  Ministers  of  their  own.  Suffer  me 
therefore  with  the  utmost  submission  to  plead  for  multitudes  of  Church  peo- 
ple in  North  Carolina  who  without  the  charitable  &  pious  care  of  the  Vener- 
able Society  must  soon  become  utter  strangers  to  the  ordinances  of  that 
Church  within  whose  pale  they  think  it  an  honor  that  they  were  born,  and 
would  esteem  it  a  blessing  to  be  continued. 

Reverend  and  worthy  Sir, 

THOs  BARTON. 


M\  SMITH  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  Octr  22,  1768. 
Revd  &  worthy  Sir, 

I  enclose  you  a  letter  I  have  received  from  the  Churchwardens  of  Bristol 
&  of  another  Congregation  now  building  a  Church  in  Bucks  County  in  this 
Province,  about  25  miles  from  Philadelphia,  who  are  greatly  encouraged  by 
many  Quakers  who  at  this  day  declare  themselves  highly  desirous  of  seeing 
the  Church  flourish  from  a  fear  of  being  overrun  by  Presbyterians. 

The  present  favorable  disposition  to  the  Church  in  this  vastly  populous 
Province  should  be  considered,  and  when  you  reflect  that  we  have  but  6  or  7 
Missionaries  in  the  whole  of  it  we  hope  it  will  be  thought  that  some  additions 
here  are  as  necessary  as  in  any  place  where  they  have  been  lately  made,  and 
you  will  consider  that  from  my  knowledge  of  the  state  of  the  Society's  Funds 
I  have  always  been  backward  in  recommending  anything  new,  tho'  I  see  this 
Province  has  suffered  by  it  while  others  have  been  pushing  forward. 

We  are  at  last  obliged  in  this  province  to  bear  our  part  in  the  unlucky 
war  commenced  against  the  Church  on  account  of  Dr.  Chandler's  publication, 


435  [i768. 

which  I  wish  had  been  let  alone.  However  in  this  place  we  have  every  body 
on  our  side,  the  Presbyterians  excepted,  &  I  think  shall  make  good  work  with 
them.  Mr.  Coombe  will  give  you  the  7  Numbers  of  our  defence  already 
published.     The  remainder  you  may  expect  afterwards. 

I  attended  a  large  meeting  of  our  Brethren  of  New  York  &  New  Jersey 
lately  on  a  plan  for  the  relief  of  the  widows  &  children  of  our  distressed 
Clergy  which  I  had  drawn  up  about  a  year  ago  and  put  the  last  hand  to  at 
Amboy  last  May  with  Drs.  Auchmuty  &  Cooper  &  Mr.  Cooke  as  a  Commit- 
tee. The  plan  hath  since  been  transmitted  to  different  Provinces  &  has  the 
general  approbation.  Dr.  Auchmuty  last  week  promised  to  write  to  you  on 
this  head  and  send  you  a  full  copy  both  of  the  plan  and  proposed  charter,  in 
framing  both  which  I  had  before  me  the  Scotch  plan  &  also  the  plan  &  charter 
of  a  like  institution  for  the  Presbyterians  here  which  was  begun  about  8  years 
ago  &  has  already  risen  to  a  capital  of  1 1 ,000  pounds. 

We  are  to  have  3  different  Charters,  one  from  New  York,  one  from  New 
Jersey  &  one  from  our  Pennsylvania  Governor,  so  that  in  which  Province 
soever  we  meet  as  convenience  requires  we  are  still  a  Corporation  in  that 
Province  &  can  let  out  our  money  accordingly  where  interest  and  security 
may  be  best.  These  Charters  will  be  passed  in  a  few  weeks;  &  all  we  want 
is  the  Society's  sanction  &  consent  to  the  two  following  clauses  which  I 
send  you  beforehand  not  having  time  to  copy  the  whole  &  believing  that  Dr. 
Auchmuty's  full  copy  will  soon  reach  you  along  with  our  public  Letter.  The 
design  is  so  truly  good  that  I  am  not  under  the  least  doubt  of  its  meeting  with 
the  sanction  of  the  benevolent  &  worthy  Society.  The  clauses  are  the  2d  & 
3d,  viz.: 

2d.  "That  there  be  deducted  as  the  yearly  rate  of  each  Missionary  three 
pounds  sterling  out  of  the  Salary  such  Missionary  receives  from  England  and 
that  the  Treasurer  of  this  Corporation  have  power  to  draw  on  the  Treasurer 
of  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  for  the  yearly  contributors 
of  the  several  Missionaries  who  shall  subscribe  to  this  scheme." 

3d.  "And  whereas  the  Fund  would  suffer  &  uncertainties  arise  by  vacan- 
cies in  Mission — that  humble  application  be  made  to  the  VenbIe  Society  to 
allow  the  £3  Rules  to  continue  during  the  vacancies  &  if  the  Society  could 
be  further  prevailed  on  to  suffer  the  rents  of  Glebes  or  other  rents  &  Inter- 
est money  (not  particularly  appropriated),  to  come  to  the  stock  during  such 
vacancy,  the  capital  might  be  considerably  assisted  thereby." 


i768.]  436 

By  allowing  this  the  Glebes,  &c,  which  are  generally  neglected  &  seldom 
come  to  any  good  during  vacancies  would  be  properly  look'd  after  by  this 
Corporation  &  be  found  in  better  order  for  the  next  Incumbent. 

The  rest  of  the  scheme  relates  to  the  proportioning  the  Annuities  between 
the  Widows  &  children ;  to  the  payment  of  the  annual  rates  of  Ministers  who 
are  not  Missionaries  &  who  are  to  pay  one  penny  in  the  pound  for  every 
day's  default  in  consideration  that  the  rates  of  the  Missionaries  being  to  be 
drawn  for  in  one  Bill  on  the  Society  are  always  sure  pay  at  the  day,  which  is 
the  first  Wednesday  after  the  Feast  of  Sl.  Michael  in  every  year. 

That  worthless  man  Joseph  Chambers  is,  I  hear,  gone  to  Ireland  to  try  for 
orders.  Can  nothing  be  done  to  prevent  it  ?  Pray  write  to  some  of  the  Bish- 
ops to  put  them  on  their  guard  if  it  is  not  too  late. 

Dear  &  worthy  Sir,  &c, 

WILLIAM  SMITH. 


Mr.  BARTON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Lancaster,  November  15,  1768. 
Revd  and  worthy  Sir, 

I  can  declare  with  great  truth  &  I  hope  without  vanity  that  I  do  not  know 
any  Mission  that  is  in  better  order.  The  people  in  general  are  religious  & 
regular  in  their  attendance  upon  the  offices  of  the  Church. 

The  Venerable  Society  cannot  now  be  unacquainted  with  the  very  cruel 
attacks  made  upon  the  Church  by  the  Presbyterians  &  independents  in  Amer- 
ica— attacks  which  for  their  uncharitableness  &  bitterness  equal  any  that  ever 
were  made  upon  her  in  former  times  in  the  mother  country.  Dismembered 
as  she  is  and  cut  off  from  her  proper  guardians  and  governors  very  little  can 
she  do  more  than  to  pray  in  the  words  of  her  most  excellent  Litany,  "that  it 
may  please  the  Lord  to  forgive  our  enemies,  persecutors  &  slanderers  and  to 
turn  their  hearts."     A  defence  of  the  Church  however  has  been  undertaken 


437  [1769- 

here  which  I  trust  will  in  some  measure  put  our  adversaries  to  shame  which  is 
all  the  evil  we  wish  them. 

I  am,  with  very  sincere  esteem,  Revd  &  worthy  Sir,  &c, 

THOs  BARTON. 


Mr.  SMITH  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philada,  22  Feb7,  1769. 
Dear  and  worthy  Sir, 

As  for  Trenton  they  have  applied  for  Mr.  Thomson  as  I 
wrote  you  before  &  as  for  Glocester  Mr.  Fayerweather  would  not  be  able  to 
live  on  the  income  ;  and  nothing  will  do  there  but  turning  it  into  an  itinerant 
Mission  for  the  whole  County  with  some  active  young  man.  I  have  no  other 
particular  to  add;  only  to  beg  as  I  cannot  by  this  ship  write  to  the  Bishop  of 
London  that  you  would  wait  on  his  Lordship  &  inform  him  that  the  congrega- 
tion of  S'.  Paul's  on  receiving  a  Letter  from  Mr.  Chapman  that  he  was  coming 
out  with  his  Lordship's  Licence  &  telling  them  that  when  he  shall  come  out 
Mr.  Stringer,  whom  they  now  have  at  Sl.  Paul's,  cannot  continue  under  him  & 
blaming  them  for  employing  a  man  ordained  irregularly  in  London  by  some 
Greek  or  foreign  Bishop.  I  say  on  receiving  this  letter  of  Chapman's  which 
I  think  was  not  blameworthy  a  majority  of  the  congregation  got  offended  at 
Chapman  &  passed  a  sort  of  confused  vote  to  keep  Stringer  even  if  Chap- 
man should  come.  But  the  Trustees  of  the  Church  &  all  men  of  sense 
declare  that  Chapman  having  now  the  Bishop's  Licence  &  everything  they 
required  must  be  received  as  their  Minister,  &  this  the  other  party  of  them 
are  so  sensible  of  that  they  trust  only  on  being  able  in  a  letter  they  have 
written  to  Mr.  Chapman,  to  discourage  his  coming  out;  for  they  could  not 
barefacedly  contradict  their  own  pressing  former  invitations  to  him.  I  was 
desired  by  some  leading  men  to  write  Mr.  Chapman  &  assure  him  that  he 
would  be  received;  but  I  did  not  chuse  to  put  any  letter  of  mine  in  his  power. 
I  beg  then  you  may  let  the  Bishop  know  this  state  of  the  case ;  &  if  Mr. 


1769.]  438 

Chapman  comes  I  think  he  should  be  encouraged,  as  it  seems  now  the  only 
thing  that  can  make  that  a  regular  Church  &  keep  it  from  continuing  in  a 
state  of  separation.  I  think  the  Bishop  should  see  Mr.  Chapman  before  he 
sends  any  answer;  only  as  little  use  as  possible  should  be  made  of  my  name. 
This  matter  deserves  serious  consideration. 

Mr.  Stringer  seems  a  peaceable  good  man  tho'  I  am  told  all  his  sermons 
are  in  one  strain  &  only  in  the  way  of  Romaine,  &c.  But  were  his  orders 
regular  I  believe  he  might  be  made  a  useful  Missionary ;  and  he  says  he  is 
willing  to  be  employed  wherever  he  can  serve  the  cause  of  religion. 

I  am,  dear  &  worthy  Sir,  &c, 

WM  SMITH. 


Mr.  MURRAY  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Reading,  25  March,  1769. 
Revd  Sir, 

The  Catechumens  I  have  under  my  charge  make  a  pro- 
ficiency to  my  wish  &  are  become  rather  fond  than  backward  as  at  first  to 
undergo  public  examination  in  Church  at  stated  times.  To  forward  ye  educa- 
tion &  to  instruct  several  of  ye  older  poor  people  I  have  occasion  for  some 
small  tracts  such  as  Lewis's  Catechism,  4  doz. ;  Husbandman's  Manuel,  3  doz. ; 
Bp  Gibson's  Family  prayer,  4  doz.;  D°  on  ye  Sacrament,  6  doz.;  or  any  the 
most  approved,  short,  plain  Treatise  on  that  subject.  There  being  no  English 
Minister  here  before  me,  that  sacred  ordinance  had  been  so  generally  lost,  that 
it  costs  me  unspeakable  pains  to  remove  ye  people's  prejudices  &gain  but  a 
few  to  ye  celebration  of  it,  but  as  I  have  now  15  Communicants  I  trust  in  God 
more  will  be  encouraged  to  follow  yr  example.  As  I  have  more  difficulties  to 
conquer  on  this  head  than  any  else  I  must  earnestly  beg  some  suitable  Tracts 
for  my  assistance.  May  I  also  crave  2  doz.  small  common  prayer  Books  &  1 
dozen  Bibles. 

In  Septr  1 767  when  I  was  recovering  from  ye  ague  I  was  advised  to  ride 


439  [17^9- 

into  ye  more  Mountainous  grounds  &  to  change  ye  air  for  the  better  confirm- 
ing my  health.  Accordingly  I  was  led  to  traverse  ye  north  west  parts  of  this 
county  till  I  came  in  yl  course,  upon  ye  Banks  of  ye  Susquehannah  about  66 
miles  from  here  where  several  places  had  been  planted  by  the  Dutch  and  Eng- 
lish who  brought  me  four  children  to  be  baptized  after  the  form  used  in  our 
Church;  tho'  ye  father  of  one  of  ym  was  popish  and  both  parents  of  another 
were  Presbyterians.  The  Parents  of  ye  other  two  were  German  Lutherans  to 
whom  our  Liturgy  is  entirely  agreeable.  After  that  I  was  requested  to  pro- 
ceed nine  miles  farther  up  the  River  to  Baptize  four  more  at  Fort  Augusta, 
which  is  ye  farthest  inhabited  part  yet  of  this  county;  The  Parents  of  these 
professed  themselves  Church  people  &  lamented  that  their  poverty  had  shut 
them  up  in  a  Wilderness  at  a  distance  from  every  place  of  public  worship  & 
indeed  all  ye  different  families  as  well  as  those  that  I  had  an  opportunity  of 
conversing  wth  in  these  places,  modestly  besought  me  to  visit  them  again  if  it 
was  but  to  christen  ye  children  but  once  in  a  year  or  two  as  there  was  no  Eng- 
lish Clergyman  of  any  persuasion  in  ye  county  but  myself;  &  they  never 
expected  ye  Dutch  Ministers  would  visit  them  as  they  were  unable  to  pay 
them  for  their  trouble  and  expences  &  the  distance  was  too  great  to  venture 
out  to  the  nighest  of  them  wl  their  children  thro'  an  inhospitable  For- 
est of  30  miles  which  disjoins  ym  from  ye  more  thick  inhabited  parts  of  ye 
country.  In  this  pitiable  situation  my  heart  bled  for  them  but  hardly  knew 
how  to  gratify  their  ardent  desires  and  could  only  give  them  some  distant 
hopes  of  seeing  me  again  &  endeavored  to  exhort  them  in  some  way  suitable 
to  yr  case  inculcating  the  special  necessity  of  private  &  family  devotion  in  the 
meantime  till  ye  Plantation  by  a  more  settled  peace  increased  &  that  then  ye 
Society  might  think  of  some  means  to  supply  yr  spiritual  wants.  But  alas  to 
ye  reproach  of  Christianity,  of  humanity  indeed!  These  very  people  in  about 
four  months  after  this  were  all  of  a  sudden  disturbed  by  the  merciless  fury  of 
one  Frederick  Stump,  one  of  whose  children  I  had  also  baptized,  who  wl  his 
servant  murdered  nine  Indians  who  lived  thereabouts  and  tho'  this  horrid 
crime  was  immediately  resented  by  his  Neighbours  &  he  apprehended,  yet 
they  tho'  innocent  were  all  alarmed,  and  so  a  few  only  quickly  abandoned 
their  habitations  for  fear  of  the  avenging  hand  of  a  ferocious  injured  nation, 
and  were  reduced  wl  yr  wives  and  children  to  the  last  extremities  of  poverty 
&  want,  &  dared  not  venture  back  to  yr  Plantations  till  the  conclusion  of  the 
Indian  Treaty  held  by  Sr  Wm  Johnson  last  Fall  at  Fort  Stanwix,  when  this 


1769.]  44Q 

massacre  wl  other  causes  of  yr  discontent  was  inquired  into  &  they  appeased ; 
and  satisfied  to  cede  their  lands  at  Fort  Augusta  &  for  a  considerable  distance 
to  ye  back  of  that  and  received  the  compensation  agreed  upon  from  the  Hon- 
ourable Mr.  Penn's  Commissioners  who  assisted  at  this  treaty.  And  now  that 
it  hath  pleased  God  to  restore  peace  to  these  unfortunate  adventurers  they 
are  with  numbers  besides  hastening  back  wl  heart  and  hand  to  their  desolate 
habitations  &  afford  a  promising  prospect  of  forming  an  extensive  settlement 
about  Fort  Augusta  where  ye  lands  are  rich,  high  and  healthy,  &  will  ere  long 
be  divided  from  this  county  of  Berks  into  one  by  themselves,  &  their  County 
Town  will  be  where  ye  Fort  now  stands  conveniently  situated  for  communica- 
tion &  Trade  at  ye  Forks  of  ye  East  and  West  Great  Branches  of  the  Susque- 
hannah,  as  you  may  see  in  the  maps  of  this  Province,  &  is  about  75  miles 
from  this  Town  thro'  which  the  Inhabitants  there  must  pass  to  Philadelphia  & 
wl  that  view  ye  lands  adjoining  ye  Fort  were  in  January  last  laid  out  into  a 
proprietary  mannor  &  a  public  road  from  there  to  this  town  confirmed  by  our 
Governour  &  Council,  which  will  be  of  singular  advantage  to  both  places,  as 
it  opens  thro'  them  a  shorter  way  than  ever  of  carrying  the  Indian  Furs,  &c., 
chiefly  by  water  from  as  far  back  as  Fort  Pitt  &  ye  Ilinois  to  ye  main  staple  at 
Philad\ 

In  this  view  of  things  it  might  not  be  beneath  ye  care  of  ye  Society  to 
become  ye  first  religious  Patrons  of  this  infant  colony  at  Fort  Augusta  &  such 
early  notice  taken  of  them  it  is  likely  would  attach  them  to  the  Interests  of 
our  Church  above  all  others  by  whom  they  had  been  overlooked  in  yr  low  & 
mean  beginnings.  They  were  all  desirous  to  see  me  again  at  more  leisure, 
&  I  cou'd  have  wished  to  have  stayed  longer  among  them  then  &  performed 
more  ministerial  duties  but  a  change  of  weather  obliged  me  to  return  soon 
for  fear  of  a  relapse  at  that  distance  from  home.  But  should  this  Colony 
make  such  progress  as  is  generally  expected  I  might  once  more  go  out  into 
it,  &  learn  what  manner  ye  Society  cou'd  be  of  some  service  to  it  &  whether 
a  Schoolmaster  would  not  in  the  first  place  be  the  fittest  instrument  to  instruct 
&  initiate  the  People  &  yr  children  The  principles  of  our  Church  imbibed 
by  these  in  youth  wou'd  leave  some  lasting  impressions  in  her  favour  for  life. 
I  was  to  have  advised  the  Society  of  this  excursion  last  Spring  but  the  disper- 
sion of  the  Planters  made  me  think  my  accounts  then  wou'd  savour  only  of 
useless  ostentation,  therefore  I  forebore.  There  will  be  upwards  of  one  hun- 
dred families  settled  ye  ensuing  Summer  within  twelve  miles  of  Fort  Augusta. 


44i  [1769. 

I  shall  be  glad  in  short  to  know  the  Society's  mind  \vth  regard  to  them  &  shall 
wth  ye  greatest  chearfulness  do  what  lies  in  my  small  power  in  this  or  in  any- 
thing else  they  shall  judge  may  answer  ye  pious  ends  of  yr  Mission,  let  ye  task 
be  ever  so  laborious.  If  I  was  to  be  sent  out  in  ye  Society's  name  it  were  not? 
amiss  that  I  had  transmitted  me  such  small  Tracts  as  I  have  requested  for  my 
people  here,  especially  a  pretty  many  of  the  Husbandman's  Manuals  &  Bishop 
Beveridge's  Tracts  on  ye  excellency  of  the  Common  Prayer  to  be  distributed 
among  the  people  in  general. 

I  am,  wth  real  esteem, 

Revd  Sir,  &c, 

ALEXR  MURRAY. 


M\   READING  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Apoquiniminck,  March  31,  1769. 
Revd  and  Worthy  Sir, 

It  is  difficult  to  say  whether  the  spiritual  or  temporal 
condition  of  these  people  is  most  wretched;  otherwise  than  as  the  superior 
value  of  the  one  above  the  other  points  out  that  difference.  No  better 
accommodation  could  be  provided  among  them  for  the  celebration  of  Divine 
Service  than  a  very  mean  school-house.  The  attendance  however  at  these 
seasons  was  generally  numerous  and  the  behaviour  of  the  hearers  serious  and 
devout.  I  have  not  neglected  this  quarter  of  my  Mission  on  former  occasions 
and  have  from  time  to  time  admonished  the  inhabitants  to  give  due  attend- 
ance  on  the  public  worship;  but  tho'  they  are  not  ill  situated  with  regard  to 
the  Church  yet  such  is  the  abject  poverty  of  the  generality  that  few  among 
them  are  possessed  of  the  means  either  of  bringing  their  families  to  or  of 
appearing  decently  in  it.  From  people  thus  circumstanced  it  is  obvious  that 
no  temporal  advantage  can  be  expected. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be  with  all  duty  &  respect, 

56  Reverend  worthy  Sir,  &c, 

PHILIP  READING. 


1769.] 


442 


Mr.    CRAIG  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Revd  Sir, 


Chester,  April  17th,  1769. 


They  have  no  doubt  seen  ye  American  Newspapers  & 
what  a  deal  of  spunk  &  noise  a  party  ever  opponent  to  our  ecclesiastical  con- 
stitution has  made  about  Dr.  Chandler's  appeal  setting  forth  ye  expediency  of 
having  Bishops  in  America,  but  I  hope  ye  animating  spirit  of  Christianity  has 
not  left  ye  Clergy  of  ye  Church  of  England  so  devoid  of  Christian  heroism 
as  to  be  intimidated  by  anything  y'  has  or  may  be  published  on  yl  head,  there 
being  nothing  new  in  all  they  have  wrote  on  that  subject  but  that  when  our 
Sovereign  shall  be  pleased  to  appoint  an  American  Episcopate  there  will  be 
enough  found  to  accept — and  I  am  sure  as  soon  as  they  make  their  appear- 
ance on  this  Continent  ye  present  clouds  will  soon  disperse  and  they  being 
good  men  will  convey  their  Christian  characters  with  dignity  &  honour  to 
the  latest  posterity.  To  have  Bishops  in  America  will  be  an  era  worthy  of 
remembrance.  All  Societies  have  their  monthly,  quarterly  &  annual  meet- 
ings; nay,  they  meet  as  often  as  they  please  and  there  transact  affairs  relative 
to  ye  advancement  of  their  party.  They  have  all  ye  ranks  &  orders  of  men 
for  government  &  discipline  which  is  of  very  great  advantage  &  of  no  small 
influence  over  ye  middling  &  lower  class  of  people.  May  God  preserve  his 
Church  &  save  ye  King. 

Reverend  Sir,  &c, 

GEO.  CRAIG. 


M".   SMITH  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philada,  Aug5'  10th,  1769. 
Revd  and  worthy  Sir, 

*         Mr.   Lyon    has   come  to   see  Glocester  Mission.      Mr. 
Peters  &  I,  as  it  lies  directly  over  against  this  city  on  the  Jersey  side  of  Dela- 


443  [1769. 

ware,  went  over  to  introduce  him,  but  he  does  not  seem  wholly  satisfied  to 
settle  there  as  that  part  of  the  Mission  which  makes  the  Gloster  Congrega- 
tion having  been  hastily  gathered  by  Dr.  Wrangel,  of  many  Presbyterians  & 
Quakers,  has  fallen  considerably  off  by  the  Settlement  Of  a  Presbyterian 
Preacher  among  them  &  we  did  not  find  that  they  could  engage  to  raise  more 
than  ^15  in  lieu  of  ^45  they  at  first  engaged  to  me  in  behalf  of  Mr.  Evans. 
The  Waterford  Congregation,  which  is  the  other  part,  is  more  zealous  and 
steady  &  have  increased  their  subscription  £8  or  £\o  more  than  at  first,  being 
now  about  ^56.  Mr.  Andrews  being  at  Philada  last  week  at  the  same  time 
with  Mr.  Lyon  gave  so  favorable  account  of  the  good  disposition,  liberal  con- 
tributions, large  numbers  of  people  &  great  importance  of  the  Lewes  Mission 
with  his  reluctance  to  leave  it  unprovided  that  he  persuaded  Mr.  Lyon  to  go 
down  with  him  to  visit  it ;  not  doubting  if  he  should  find  it  more  to  his  advan- 
tage, have  a  prospect  of  doing  more  good  &  prove  acceptable  to  the  people 
but  the  Society  would  indulge  him  with  that  place  instead  of  Glocester  where 
the  people  cannot  suffer  so  much  by  a  delay  as  being  within  reach  of  the 
Philadelphia  Churches.  Mr.  Lyon  seems  hardly  &  fit  to  bear  the  climate  & 
fatigues  of  the  Lewes  Mission.  What  his  determination  will  be  I  cannot  tell, 
till  he  returns  up;  and  then  I  do  not  expect  to  be  in  Town  as  our  College 
vacation  begins  next  Monday  and  I  cannot  deny  myself  my  annual  ramble 
towards  the  frontiers  of  this  Province. 

Believe  me  to  be,  dear  &  worthy  Sir, 

WM  SMITH. 


Mr.  PETERS  to  the  Bishop  of  London. 


Philadelphia,  6th  December,  1769. 
My  much  Honour0  Lord, 

I  am  ashamed  that  I  have  not  all  this  Time  answerd  your  Lordship's  Let- 
ter of  the  25th  November  last  relating  to  Mr.  Stringer,  the  present  officiating 
Minister  of  Sl.  Paul's  Church  in  this  City.  Nothing  however  has  been  omit- 
ted by  me  that  I  coud  think  would  do  any  Good  to  so  wilful  and  self  conceited 
a  People.     As  soon  as  I  received  your  Lordship's  Letter,  I  communicated  the 


1769.]  444 

Contents  to  Dr.  Smith  and  Mr.  Duche,  and  conferred  with  them  in  what  man- 
ner to  act.  Mr.  Stringer  notwithstanding  the  Irregularity  of  his  Introduction 
into  Orders  is  a  quiet,  inoffensive  and  good  man.  He  gives  constant  attend- 
ance to  his  Duty  which  he  punctually  performs  according  to  the  Rites  and 
Ceremonies  of  our  Church.  He  preaches  on  every  Holy  Day  and  did  use  to 
lecture  once  a  Week  in  the  Evening  besides  his  ordinary  Duty.  By  this  com- 
mendable Diligence  and  by  never  shewing  the  least  Regard  to  his  Worldly 
Interest  or  troubling  his  Head  whether  the  Congregation  gives  him  more  or 
less  he  had  obtaind  an  universal  Esteem.  Not  only  the  members  of  his  own 
Congregation  but  of  all  other  Persuasions  expressd  a  Value  for  him  and 
thought  the  City  much  favourd  by  having  so  quiet  and  innocent  a  man  at  the 
head  of  such  a  medley  as  that  Congregation  consists  of.  As  this  was  the 
case,  we  all  thought  it  best  to  let  Mr.  Stringer  have  the  first  Knowledge  of  the 
Letter,  and  accordingly  it  was  communicated  to  him  in  a  friendly  manner  by 
Dr.  Smith,  Mr.  Duche  and  myself.  After  he  had  read  the  Letter  he  seemed 
to  be  in  no  wise  perplexed,  but  frankly  owned  that  your  Lordship  had  given 
a  true  Account  of  what  had  passed  except  that  as  he  says  your  Lordship  was 
mistaken  in  saying  he  promised  not  to  do  any  Duty  under  his  Greek  Orders, 
he  promised  not  to  do  Duty  under  them  till  he  had  your  Lordship's  answer, 
and  when  he  received  that  answer  which  was  so  peremptory  against  him,  and 
a  total  Discouragement  for  ever  making  any  application  to  the  Society  he 
looked  on  his  promise  to  be  no  further  binding,  as  there  coud  be  no  Connection 
after  that  between  your  Lordship  and  him.  He  ownd  likewise  that  your 
Lordship  had  his  orders,  and  that  from  what  your  Lordship  had  said  about  the 
character  of  the  Bishop  who  ordaind  him,  as  if  he  was  no  real  Bishop,  he  had 
got  a  good  Enquiry  made  into  that  Fact,  and  found  that  he  was  truly  the 
Bishop  he  pretended  to  be,  and  therefore  he  had  applied  to  him  who  was  then 
still  at  Amsterdam  to  send  him  Duplicates  of  his  Orders  which  he  did  and 
under  these  he  now  acts  and  thinks  he  may  rightly  act  as  a  Minister  of  the 
Gospel;  and  as  his  affections  are  really  in  favour  of  the  Service  and  articles 
of  the  Church  of  England  he  thinks  he  is  well  warranted  to  read  her  Service 
and  do  all  the  Duty  of  a  Church  of  England  Minister  in  any  Congregation 
that  will  please  to  employ  him.  That  he  did  not  come  over  to  America  on 
any  particular  Plan  but  from  the  hopes  of  doing  good  in  any  Place,  no  matter 
what,  for  he  had  no  Notion  of  one  Place  more  than  another.  That  he  came 
to  Philadelphia  and  was  applied  to  by  the  Congregation  of  S'.  Paul's.     It  was 


445  [1769. 

they  applied  to  him  not  he  to  them,  and  that  as  he  is  only  an  occasional  Min- 
ister to  them,  as  soon  as  they  please  to  declare  their  Desire  that  he  shoud  no 
longer  officiate,  he  would  as  gladly  leave  them  as  stay  with  them,  and  go  to 
some  other  Place.  That  all  Places  are  alike  to  him  and  he  should  go  where 
God  directed  him;  and  he  said  further  that  as  he  had  from  the  very  first  given 
the  same  account  of  himself  to  the  Congregation  as  your  Lordship  had  done 
in  your  Letter,  we  might  proceed  to  lay  it  before  the  Congregation  or  Vestry 
in  what  manner  we  pleased,  for  it  would  give  him  no  concern  whether  they 
woud  or  woud  not  dismiss  him. 

We  then  thought  it  best  to  desire  the  Church  Wardens  to  call  a  Vestry  in 
order  to  give  me  an  opportunity  of  laying  your  Lordship's  Letter  before 
them.  They  promisd  to  do  it,  but  shuffled  from  time  to  time  and  at  last 
expressed  a  total  indifference  about  it,  and  that  they  would  be  satisfied  with 
their  Minister  on  the  foot  he  was  employed  by  them  notwithstanding  your 
Lordship's  Letter.  They  were  told  over  and  over  that  he  was  no  more  a 
Minister  of  the  Church  of  England  than  any  of  the  Preachers  among  the  other 
Sectaries  and  that  his  being  in  any  wise  employed  by  the  Vestry  or  Congre- 
gation to  do  Duty  as  a  Minister  of  the  Church  of  England  was  expressly 
against  their  Constitution  and  a  total  Defection  from  any  English  Ecclesiasti- 
cal Jurisdiction.  This  they  owned  but  are  for  all  that  determined  to  go  on 
as  they  do,  and  the  reason  is  apparent.  It  is  this.  Some  few  men  do  hereby 
retain  their  Power  and  Influence  and  Reign  Sole  Sovereigns  of  the  Congrega- 
tion, and  it  will  go  on  as  it  does  till  they  quarrel  amongst  themselves  and  then 
they  may  return  to  Order. 

This  is  a  faithful  and  full  and  true  Account  of  the  State  of  this  Church, 
and  I  heartily  am  sorry  that  it  was  not  made  sooner  to  your  Lordship.  I  have 
no  Excuse  for  my  Delay;  I  shall  not  hereafter  have  any  Connection  with  the 
Minister  or  Congregation  of  Sl.  Paul's,  who  have  not  only  been  very  unduti- 
ful  to  your  Lordship,  but  have  also  been  peculiarly  ungrateful  to  me  in  the 
manner  they  have  thought  fit  to  demean  themselves  as  well  as  in  their  man- 
ner of  representing  what  I  have  done  and  said  in  this  matter.     I  am, 

Your  Lordship's 

most  obedient  and 

most  humble  and  dutiful 
Son  and  Servant, 

RICHARD  PETERS. 


177°-]  446 

M\  ANDREWS  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

York  in  Pennsylva,  Jan.  io,  1770. 
Revd  Sir, 

The  Congregation  here  is  much  larger  than  at  York  or 
Carlisle;  although  of  late  it  has  been  somewhat  diminished  by  the  removal  of  a 
few  families  to  Carolina.  It  is  supposed  however  that  there  are  upwards  of 
twenty  still  remaining. 

There  are  not  more  than  2  or  3  Church  families  who  reside  in  the  Town. 
The  other  inhabitants  are  chiefly  Presbyterians.  By  these  I  was  entertained 
during  my  continuance  among  them  with  much  kindness  and  hospitality  and 
of  them  was  my  audience  chiefly  composed  on  Sunday. 

And  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c, 

JOHN  ANDREWS. 


M\  SMITH  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philada,  April  24,  1770. 
Dear  and  worthy  Sir, 

Mr.  Ayres  came  in  a  very  forward  manner  to  solicit  the  Mission  from  the 
people  but  he  had  no  encouragement  from  more  than  one  or  two  that  I  could 
hear  of.  The  Vestry  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  him ;  &  indeed  he  would 
not  suit  that  place.  We  thought  considering  his  low  parts  and  little  education 
we  did  him  a  great  favor  to  get  him  a  place  among  some  people  in  the  Jersies 
who  have  not  themselves  much  knowledge  &  whom  we  thought  he  might  suit. 
But  he  soon  thought  he  deserved  something  higher  &  complained  of  his  peo- 
ple to  the  last  Meeting  of  our  Clergy,  but  they  did  not  approve  his  complaint 
as  none  of  his  people  were  present  to  answer;  &  we  appointed  Mr.  Cook  to 


447  [i77o. 

enquire  among  the  people  &  it  seems  they  have  given  no  cause  for  it,  but 
perform  their  contract  with  Mr.  Ayres  to  the  utmost  of  their  abilities. 
With  great  affection  &  regard,  worthy  Sir,  &c, 

WM  SMITH. 


M\  SMITH  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philad\  15th  Octr,  1770. 
Revd  and  worthy  Sir, 

The  great  bane  of  the  Oxford  Mission  &  the  cause  of  the  divisions  I  found 
among  them  was  a  lottery  erected  in  Mr.  Neill's  time  which  instead  of  some 
hundred  pounds  which  it  ought  to  have  cleared  never  cleared  thirty  pounds 
that  I  can  find  any  account  of  &  that  part  of  the  Congregation  which  were 
not  in  the  management  of  the  lottery  accused  the  others  of  mismanagement, 
which  laid  the  foundation  of  quarrels  scarcely  yet  healed  up,  tho'  I  have 
endeavored  to  bring  them  to  forget  the  Lottery  &  all  that  is  past  as  if  it  had 
never  been. 

Since  Easter  last  the  Congregation  has  been  happy  and  flourishing  &  I 
think  will  continue  so.  Its  peace  had  been  chiefly  disturbed  by  one  Samuel 
Swift,  a  sort  of  Practitioner  in  Physic,  who  was  bred  an  anabaptist  &  who 
being  turned  out  of  that  Society  for  seizing  the  elements  at  the  sacrament  by 
force,  when  the  Minister  had  refused  to  admit  him  to  the  Communion,  on 
account  of  some  misconduct,  he  then  turned  to  the  Church,  &  was  received 
by  Mr.  Neill  and  came  at  last  to  be  Churchwarden  &  wanted  to  govern  every- 
thing in  the  same  arbitrary  way  as  he  had  attempted  among  the  Baptists. 
For  a  year  or  two  I  kept  him  in  the  Oxford  Vestry  hoping  to  reconcile  all 
sides,  but  finding  it  could  not  be  done,  I  let  the  people  take  their  way  last 
Easter  &  they  turned  him  wholly  out  of  all  power  and  then  he  left  the  Church, 
for  which  we  have  cause  to  rejoice,  since  they  are  now  a  happy  and  united 
people  &  increasing  in  numbers  daily,  nor  do  I  ever  wish  to  see  him  in  any 
office  in  that  Church  again  while  I  have  any  care  of  it.  I  am  told  he  and 
some  of  his  family  now  join  a  strolling  follower  of  Wesley's. 


i77o.]  448 

Thus  I  have  given  you  the  true  and  genuine  state  of  the  Oxford  Church 
&  the  difficulties  I  had  in  it  which  you  will  see  are  of  such  a  nature  that  they 
are  only  fit  to  be  mentioned  in  private,  &  are  not  for  public  view  lest  they 
should  widen  those  differences  which  I  have  been  striving  to  close  &  which  I 
thank  God  I  think  I  can  now  say  are  in  a  manner  wholly  closed. 

I  am,  Revd  and  worthy  Sir,  &c, 

WM  SMITH. 


M\  BARTON  to  the  Secretary, 


(EXTRACT.) 


Lancaster  in  Pennsylvania,  December  17,   1770. 
Revd  and  very  worthy  Sir, 

With  regard  to  the  Churches  then  under  my  care  I  am  happy  enough  to 
assure  the  Society  that  they  have  suffered  no  diminution  from  the  ill-natured 
opposition  they  have  lately  met  with  but  have  stood  firm  amidst  the  wild  tho' 
popular  systems  of  religion  which  extravagant  Enthusiasts  have  propagated 
around  them.  The  progress  of  Fanaticism  however  in  some  parts  of  this 
Province  is  become  very  considerable.  A  broke?i  officer,  an  E?iglish  Baker,  a 
Dtitch  Shoemaker,  &  a  crazy  Planter,  besides  a  number  of  strolling  Metho- 
dists have  all  in  their  turns  been  followed  &  admired  whilst  national  religion 
&  common  sense  have  been  rejected  &  forsaken.  Nay,  some  of  those  fanat- 
icks  have  had  influence  enough  to  get  large  Meeting  houses  erected  for  them. 
The  new  dispensation  set  up  by  these  people  contradicts  some  of  the  most 
comfortable  doctrines  ot  the  Gospel.  It  discourages  its  Proselytes  from  the 
pursuit  of  virtuous  &  moral  actions.  It  teaches  them  that  "the  Baptism 
administered  to  them  by  those  called  clergy  was  no  Baptism,"  in  consequence 
of  which  numbers  have  suffered  themselves  to  be  rebaptized.  Instead  of 
instructing  the  people  to  "serve  the  Lord  with  gladness"  &  to  have  "joy  in  the 
Holy  Ghost,"  these  miserable  teachers  advance  a  gloomy  and  dreadful  religion 
which  has  thrown  its  followers  into  dereliction  &  despair  &  has  made  many  of 
them  fitter  objects  for  a  Hospital  than  a  Church.     They  have  set  up  noctur- 


449  [i77o. 

nal  Societies,  travelled  from  House  to  House.  Their  Meetings  have  often 
continued  till  midnight;  &  it  is  said  some  extravagancies  have  been  acted  in 
these  Meetings  equal  to  any  that  we  read  of  among  the  ancient  Bacchanalians. 
Boys  of  10  and  12  years  old  have  been  sent  about  the  country  to  pray  and 
exhort  publickly.  In  short  the  raving  notions  &  ridiculous  freaks  that  are 
every  day  spread  &  acted  among  us  under  the  name  of  Religion  is  beyond 
the  power  of  description.  The  extreme  absurdity  however  of  these  dispen- 
sations is  the  only  security  we  have  from  their  becoming  dangerous.  Such 
madness  &  folly  cannot  possibly  last  long  and  tho'  they  may  &  undoubtedly 
will  unhinge  the  rational  principles  of  people  for  the  present ;  yet  when  they 
return  to  their  senses,  as  I  trust  they  will  soon  do,  they  will  be  more  cautious 
of  being  led  into  future  delusions  by  false  profits  and  pretended  Saints.  I 
wrote  a  small  piece  upon  this  subject  which  has  been  handed  about  in  Manu- 
script. It  has  been  attended  I  am  told  with  success.  Among  my  own  people 
I  am  sure  it  has  done  good.  I  would  send  you  a  copy  of  it,  if  I  could  think 
you  would  take  time  to  peruse  it. 

At  Marlbro'  near  40  miles  from  hence  I  preached  last  Summer  once  in  6 
weeks,  on  a  week  day  ;  &  have  promised  the  people  there  a  share  of  my  la- 
bours until  the  Venble  Society  shall  be  pleased  to  provide  better  for  them. 
This  Place  was  once  a  chief  branch  of  a  fine  Mission  under  the  care  of  one  Mr. 
Gordon  who,  it  is  said,  behav'd  ill  and  went  away  in  disgrace.  The  congrega- 
tion was  afterwards  occasionally  visited  by  some  of  the  Swedish  Missionaries 
but  being  at  length  neglected  by  whose  means  I  know  not  they  mostly  went 
over  to  the  Quakers.  Their  Church  went  to  decay  and  everything  like  the 
religion  they  once  professed  was  lost  and  forgot.  In  this  state  I  found  this 
place  upon  my  first  visit  to  it.  But  upon  promissing  to  come  to  them  once 
in  6  weeks  the  Winter  excepted,  &  to  recommend  them  to  the  notice  of  the 
Society,  the  poor  people  returned  to  the  Church. 

My  Congregations  particularly  those  in  the  Country  are  truly  serious  and 
religious,  &  firmly  attached  to  the  excellent  doctrines  &  constitution  of  the 
Church  of  England.  I  have  baptized  within  this  year  108  Infants  &  14  adults 
if  under  that  title  I  may  be  allowed  to  include  some  persons  of  14  and  16 
years  of  age.  The  number  of  Communicants  in  my  three  stated  Churches  is 
90,  viz.  at  Lancaster  25  ;  at  Pequea  35  ;  and  at  Caernarvon  30.  The  duties 
of  so  very  extensive  a  Mission  bear  hard  upon  me  &  have  greatly  impaired 
my  health.     But  as  long  as  my  remaining  constitution  will  permit,  &  I  have 


i77o.]  45o 

any  prospects  of  serving  the  Interests  of  Religion  &  the  Church  I  will  chear- 
fully  continue  in  the  discharge  of  these  duties.  I  find  in  my  Congregation  in 
Lancaster  several  poor  people  who  are  unable  to  send  their  children  to  School 
or  to  afford  them  any  education.  They  have  often  requested  me  to  Petition 
the  Venble  Society  in  their  behalf  for  an  allowance  of  ,£10  per  annum  towards 
this  charitable  use ;  in  the  same  manner  in  which  the  Society  have  supported 
Schools  in  other  places,  but  knowing  the  low  state  of  the  Society's  Funds,  I 
have  deferred  saying  anything  upon  this  subject  until  now  that  these  people's 
repeated  solicitations  have  prevailed  with  me  to  forward  the  enclosed  Cer- 
tificate. 

Mr.  Stuart  is  safely  arrived  &  gone  to  his  station.  This  gentleman  has 
given  every  reason  to  expect  he  will  be  a  useful  &  zealous  Missionary.  The 
appointments  in  the  Mohawk  Country  will  surely  be  attended  with  happy  con- 
sequences &  do  honor  to  the  Venble  Society.  Missions  should  likewise  be  im- 
mediately established  in  Canada  particularly  at  Quebec  &  Montreal.  The 
Church  of  England  is  much  censured  &  abused  for  neglecting  this  important 
post.  It  is  sufficiently  evident  that  ye  Society's  Stock  is  too  small  to  support 
even  their  present  appointments,  unreasonable  therefore  it  is  to  expect  that 
they  should  upon  the  small  &  precarious  benefactions  they  receive  from  the 
piiblic  engage  in  so  expensive  an  undertaking.  If  there  is  any  public  virtue 
left  as  I  am  sure  there  is,  ye  advancement  of  the  Church  of  England  in  America 
should  become  a  national  concern.  This  Church  has  ever  been  considered  as 
the  head  of  the  Protestant  Interest  &  the  centre  of  Protestant  Unity ;  and 
therefore  ought  to  be  promoted  here  from  motives  of  Policy  as  well  as  of  re- 
ligion. It  requires  not  the  sagacity  of  a  Politician  if  he  is  but  acquainted  with 
the  Temper  &  disposition  of  people  here  to  foresee  that  the  more  the  Church 
of  England  in  the  Colinies  is  neglected  the  less  hold  will  the  Parent  Kingdom 
have  of  them.  God  Grant  that  those  at  the  helm  may  see  these  things  in 
their  proper  light ! 

Permit  me,  Revd  Sir,  before  I  take  my  leave  of  you  to  mention  &  recom- 
mend Mr.  Kuhn,  a  young  Gentleman  who  proposes  going  to  England  next 
Summer  to  offer  himself  a  Candidate  for  holy  orders.  Mr.  Kuhn  received  his 
education  in  and  is  a  Graduate  of  Philadelphia  College.  For  two  years  he 
has  been  a  licenced  Deacon  among  the  German  Lutherans  &  has  had  the 
charge  of  several  Congregations.  In  this  office  he  has  acquitted  himself  with 
general  approbation  ;  being  zealous  &  popular  as  a  Preacher  as  well  as  exem- 


45i  [xyji. 

plary  in  his  life  and  conversation.  He  is  a  prudent,  sensible  &  virtuous  youth 
and  being  led  by  the  benevolence  of  his  heart  to  do  all  the  good  he  can,  he 
chuses  to  go  into  the  Church  of  England  where  he  hopes  to  be  more  gener- 
ally useful  as  he  speaks  the  English  language  as  well  as  the  Dutch.  His 
Father  is  a  German  of  considerable  weight  and  influence  in  this  Place  and  he 
has  a  brother  who  studied  several  years  under  Linnaeus  the  famous  Botanist 
of  Sweden  &  who  is  now  one  of  the  Medical  Professors  in  the  College  of 
Philadelphia.  I  mention  these  things  to  shew  Mr.  Kuhn's  connections  &  how 
likely  he  is  to  become  a  useful  Missionary  &  of  advantage  to  the  Church  if  he 
can  be  well  placed  where  he  will  have  a  mixture  of  English  &  Germans.  I 
therefore  beg  that  my  Lord  Bishop  of  London  will  give  Mr.  Kuhn  leave  to 
present  himself  for  holy  orders  ;  and  that  the  Venble  Society  will  likewise  per- 
mit him  to  offer  himself  for  their  service. 

And  I  assure  you,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

THOs  BARTON. 


Mr.  SMITH  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philada  14  Jany,  1 771. 
Revd  &  Worthy  Sir, 

Mr.  Griffith  who  was  appointed  for  Gloster  Mission  New 
Jersey  has  deserted  it  after  staying  about  a  month  with  them.  He  consulted 
none  of  us  in  this  hasty  step  but  took  his  leave  of  the  people  last  Sunday  but 
one.  Dr.  Peters,  Mr.  Duche  and  myself  endeavoured  to  persuade  him  to  stay 
and  wait  the  Society's  pleasure  for  a  removal.  But  he  insisted  on  returning 
to  New  York  saying  he  only  accepted  of  Gloster  Mission  by  way  of  title  to 
get  ordained  by ;  but  not  to  stay  with  them.  He  complained  that  the  People 
would  do  nothing  for  him  but  in  this  he  does  them  great  injustice.  They  had 
subscribed  ^48  Pennsylvania  money,  about  ^30  Ster.  They  offered  to  give 
Bond  for  the  payment  of  it,  and  also  to  hire  a  house  and  small  Glebe.  This 
was  not  only  as  much  as  they  promised  Mr.  Griffith  before  he  went  to  Eng- 
land but  likewise  as  much  as  they  are  really  able  to  give  &  more  than  is  given 


i77i-1  452 

by  any  Mission  in  this  Province  except  one  or  two.  It  is  true  the  Waterford 
Congregation  did  this  without  the  Town  of  Gloster  as  in  the  latter  there  never 
were  more  than  5  or  6  Church  families  so  that  Mr.  Griffith  may  have  to  say 
that  one  of  his  congregations  would  do  nothing.  The  truth  is,  he  did  not 
stay  to  try  whether  they  would  do  anything  and  I  have  reason  to  think  that 
the  cause  of  his  not  settling  there  was  his  intending  to  practice  Physic  and 
his  not  finding  that  it  would  answer  any  valuable  purpose  in  the  Gloster 
Mission. 

Most  obed1  and  obliged  humble  Serv1, 

WILLIAM  SMITH. 


M\  SMITH  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 


Philada,  May  3,  1 771 . 


My  dear  Sir, 

I  have  great  pleasure  in  going  to  preach  among  them 
and  in  Summer  particularly.  My  Country  House  where  my  Family  resides 
is  nearer  Oxford  Church  than  to  Philadelphia  being  about  2  miles  from  where 
Mr.  Neill,  the  last  Missionary,  resided.  The  Congregation  increases  much 
since  we  got  rid  of  one  or  two  quarrelsome  people.  All  the  Swedish  Families 
that  are  in  that  Neighborhood  and  were  formerly  a  separate  Congregation 
under  the  Swedish  Missionaries  have  joined  Oxford  Church  and  many  of 
them  are  Communicants.  We  are  this  Summer  about  erecting  a  New  Church 
about  5  miles  from  Oxford  Church  for  the  better  accommodating  part  of  the 
Mission  &  after  preaching  in  the  forenoon  at  Oxford,  I  go  once  a  month  in 
the  afternoon  to  that  place  and  the  Swedish  Missionary  from  Philadelphia  also 
goes  once  a  month. 

The  people  seem  more  desirous  than  ever  of  my  continuance  to  officiate 
among  them  &  as  it  is  at  present  a  pleasure  to  me  independent  of  some 
benefit  it  is  of  to  my  large  family,  I  must  rely  on  your  goodness  that  there 
be  no  alteration  made  without  the  concurrence  of  the  people  &  myself,  a  re- 
quest which  from  my  long  services  to  the  Church  in  America,  I  hope  the  So- 


453  ll77i- 

ciety  will  think  me  entitled  to  make.  Some  of  the  people  had  heard  that  Mr. 
Thomas  Hopkinson,  one  of  the  young  Gentlemen  I  recommended  to  you  in 
my  last  and  distantly  related  to  the  Bishop  of  Worcester  would  apply  for  it 
&  there  are  several  considerations  that  would  make  him  very  unfit  for  it,  tho' 
he  is  a  very  valuable  young  man  &  only  unhappy  in  his  hesitation  and  manner 
of  Speech.  But  I  am  well  persuaded  neither  he  nor  his  Friends  would  be  so 
indelicate  or  ungrateful  to  me  his  old  Master  as  to  apply  without  my  privity 
or  knowledge  for  anything  possessed  by  me  ;  nor  would  the  Society  serve  the 
meanest  person  in  their  service  in  that  way,  who  did  his  duty  with  reputation 
and  fidelity  as  I  have  done  to  that  people  amid  all  my  other  engagements. 

I  have  written  to  the  Bp  of  London  to  be  on  his  gruard  against  one  Aiken 
who  was  of  the  Presbyterian  Preachers  in  this  City'  &  is  forced  out  among 
them  on  ace1  of  scandalous  charges  against  him  in  respect  to  the  Woman  he 
is  now  said  to  have  married.  He  applied  to  Dr.  Peters  and  myself  to  be  ad- 
mitted among  us  but  we  refused  him.  However  we  hear  he  has  got  some 
sort  of  papers  signed  in  Maryland  and  is  about  taking  a  passage  to  England 
on  which  Dr.  Peters,  Mr.  Duche  &  myself  wrote  to  him  yesterday  as  follows : 

"  Sir, 

"As  we  understand  you  are  about  taking  a  Passage  to  England,  we  think 
it  a  piece  of  justice  to  inform  you  that  if  you  continue  your  resolution  of  ap- 
plying for  holy  orders  in  our  Church  we  must  be  obliged  in  duty  to  send  such 
objections  to  the  Bishop  of  London  against  receiving  you  as  we  are  fully  per- 
suaded will  render  your  application  fruitless." 

The  man  has  so  much  assurance  that  I  believe  this  will  not  stop  him  ;  & 
therefore  lest  the  letter  I  have  sent  to  the  Bishop  of  London  (which  goes  by 
another  Ship  with  our  Governor),  should  not  come  to  hand  so  soon  as  this 
please  to  communicate  to  the  Bishop  as  soon  as  possible  what  I  have  written 
about  this  Mr.  Aiken  or  Aitken,  for  I  know  not  exactly  how  he  spells  his  name. 

I  am,  Dear  and  Worthy  Sir,  &c, 

WM  SMITH. 


i17l-~\  454 

M\  BARTON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 
Lancaster  in  Pennsylvania,  June  20th,  1 77 1 . 

REVD    &    VERY   WORTHY    SlR, 

Mr.  Stuart  is  most  usefully  employed  at  Fort  Hunter.  He  has  already 
made  himself  so  far  master  of  the  Mohawk  language  as  to  be  able  to  read  in 
Church  about  half  of  the  Morning  Service  ;  which  he  does  every  Sunday  to 
the  Indians.  Besides  this  duty  he  officiates  constantly  in  English  to  the  white 
Inhabitants.  This  Gentleman  by  all  accounts  is  a  most  zealous  &  faithful 
laborer  in  the  Vineyard.  It  is  hoped  that  by  his  means  under  God  an  effect- 
ual door  will  at  last  be  opened  for  the  introduction  of  religion  into  the  heathen 
Country.  Sir  William  Johnson  in  a  late  letter  to  me  gives  the  testimony  in 
his  favor :  "  Mr.  Stuart  has  been  some  time  at  his  Mission  where  he  is  much 
esteemed  not  only  by  the  Indians,  but  by  the  English  and  Dutch  Inhabitants 
who  constantly  resort  to  his  Church.  I  have  great  hopes  from  his  appoint- 
ment."        *         *         * 

Canada,  it  is  true  "  has  not  been  totally  neglected."  I  know 
there  are  3  Chaplains  supported  there  by  Government.  But  these  gentlemen 
who  are  confined  to  particular  Regiments  and  Garrisons  can  be  of  little  service 
in  promoting  the  Protestant  Religion  in  that  Country.  Mr.  Delisle,  Chaplain 
to  the  Garrison  at  Montreal,  is  very  sensible  of  this  and  has  I  am  told  con- 
stantly complained  that  some  hardy  &  faithful  Missionaries  of  the  Church  of 
England  have  not  been  established  in  Canada.  You  have  however  sufficiently 
accounted  for  this  seeming  neglect  with  regard  to  the  Society.  The  matter 
rests  with  the  Government  and  wisdom  will  one  day,  &  we  trust  ere  long, 
point  out  the  necessity  of  giving  it  due  attention. 

I  am,  Revd  &  worthy  Sir,  &c., 

THOs  BARTON. 


455  [i77i 

M\  ANDREWS  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philada,  July  Ist,  1 77 1. 
Revd  Sir, 

In  York  we  are  building;  an  elegant  Church  which  will  be 
compleated  by  the  Fall.  It  is  a  brick  building  54  feet  in  front  and  36  in  depth. 
This  you  will  acknowledge  was  a  great  undertaking  for  a  few  families.  It  is 
true  we  received  considerable  assistances:  yet  the  subscriptions  among  our- 
selves were  more  liberal  than  I  remember  to  have  seen  upon  the  like  occa- 
sions. Indeed  such  a  love  for  the  Church,  such  a  zeal  to  promote  its  interests, 
so  much  publick  spirit  upon  all  occasions  prevails  among  this  small  but  wor- 
thy set  of  people  that  I  cannot  but  think  myself  happy  in  my  present  situa- 
tion. 

The  Ladies  too  have  their  subscription  and  being  no  less  impatient  to  see 
the  work  completed  are  providing  for  us  a  pulpit  cloth  and  cushion,  a  desk 
Cloth,  Cloth  for  the  Communion  Table,  &c.         *  * 

I  am,  Revd  Sir,  &c., 

JOHN  ANDREWS. 


M\  SMITH  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philada,  July  6th,  1 771. 
Revd  and  worthy  Sir, 

*  There  is  indeed  a  good  prospect  opening  for  a  large  ad- 

dition to  the  Mission  where  we  are  about  to  build  the  new  church.  They 
were  a  people  that  were  like  to  fall  in  with  the  Methodists ;  and  I  think  I  can 
say  without  vanity  that  I  have  been  a  considerable  means  of  shewing  them 
how  much  better  it  is  to  join  in  a  regular  Congregation.  Yet  so  it  is  that  tho' 
I  had  been  thus  successful  in  preventing  the  Methodist  Preachers  from  gain- 


1 77i-]  456 

ing  any  Settlement  there,  yet  it  had  been  said  at  New  York  that  I  had  ad- 
mitted some  of  their  preachers  to  the  pulpit  of  Oxford  Church,  but  this  was 
so  far  from  being  true  that  I  never  exchanged  a  word  with  one  of  their  preach- 
ers nor  was  there  ever  one  of  them  within  Oxford  Church  nor  so  much  as 
asked  by  any  of  the  people  of  that  Church  who  are  far  from  having  any  inclin- 
ation to  follow  such  men.  The  Box  with  the  abstracts  &  some  Prayer  Books 
is  come  to  hand  and  I  have  delivered  to  Mr.  Thomson  the  library  for  Trenton 
&  have  wrote  to  Mr.  Magaw  as  you  directed  me  informing  him  of  the  contin- 


uance of  his  ,£10. 


I  am,  Revd  &  worthy  Sir,  &c., 


WM  SMITH. 


M\  ROSS  to  the  Secretary. 


Philadelphia,  July  6,  1 771 . 
Reverend  Sir, 

At  the  earnest  and  repeated  request  of  several  of  the  Congregation  of 
Oxford,  I  give  you  this  trouble  in  their  behalf  humbly  to  request  the  Honble 
Society  will  be  pleased  to  send  them  a  worthy  pious  Minister  to  officiate  & 
reside  among  them.  Mr.  Montgomery  who  lately  went  from  hence  for  orders 
on  his  return  declined  their  service  and  accepted  a  living  in  Maryland  whereby 
the  dutys  to  the  familys  visiting  the  sick,  &c.,  are  totally  omitted  to  their  great 
uneasiness.  Dr.  Smith  occasionally  officiates  among  them  on  the  Lord's  Day 
but  that  by  no  means  gives  satisfaction  as  some  like  and  approve  him  well  & 
attends  the  service  of  the  Church  when  he  comes  among  them,  while  others 
dislike  him  as  much  &  will  not  join  their  brethren  in  Worship  under  his  min- 
istry &  so  totally  abstain  attending  Divine  Service  whereby  that  little  flock  is 
at  present  divided  &  much  scattered.  The  people  are  extremely  desirous  to 
be  on  a  footing  with  other  Missions,  to  have  their  Minister  reside  on  the  spot, 
ready  when  called  on  to  do  the  Parochial  dutys,  visit  the  sick,  baptize  the 
children,  bury  the  dead,  &c. ;  and  by  his  good  example,  purity  of  manners, 
sound  doctrine  &  good  advice  gradually  conduct  them  to  happiness.  It  is 
really  at  this  time  one  of,  if  not  the  best  &  most  agreeable  Missions  in  this 
Province.     Pray  send  them  an  affable,  kind  &  courtious  English  Clergyman ; 


457  \_l77i-- 

such  a  one  will  add  weight  &  do  real  and  essential  service  to  the  Church  ;  as 
most  who  are  sent  from  hence  for  ordination  are  generally  young  Presbyte- 
rians who  cannot  be  supposed  will  make  much  effort  for  the  advancement  of, 
or  likely  to  make  many  converts  to  our  Churches. 

Hard  indeed  is  our  case  that  we  cannot  have  a  Bishop  sent  to  America. 
Should  that  happy  time  arrive  our  Church  would  then  be  countenanced  & 
supported,  whereas  at  present  she  droops  her  head  and  languishes.  We  de- 
sire no  power  over  our  dissenting  Brethren  but  we  want  at  least  to  be  on  a 
level  with  them.  Were  we  so  favour'd  I  doubt  not  several  men  of  Fortune 
who  want  no  aids  from  the  people  wou'd  enter  into  the  Church  merely  for  the 
sake  of  doing  good.  The  Dissenters  generally,  except  Presbyterians,  heartily 
wish  it. 

Revd  Sir,  &c., 

JOHN  ROSS. 


M\  READING  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Apoquiniminck,  Octr  2,  1 771. 
Revd  worthy  Sir, 

*  I  had  all  along  resolved  to  be  present  at  the  meeting  of 

our  Corporation  at  Amboy  but  am  at  last  compelled  to  give  up  the  thoughts 
of  it.  My  resolution  did  not  fail  me  through  Mrs.  Reading's  insinuations  :  It 
was  really  defeated.  I  am  not  now  seeking  for  paltry  excuses  ;  those  of  an 
interesting  nature  occur  so  fast  to  me  that  I  hardly  know  where  to  begin  an 
explanation  of  them.  It  is,  if  I  am  rightly  informed,  a  sufficient  plea  for  ab- 
sence from  a  Bishop's  visitation  if  a  proctor  stands  up  and  says,  "  Gram  in- 
commodo  impeditus  est!'  How  much  more  readily  in  the  present  case  may  it 
be  allowed  as  a  reasonable  apology  for  him  who  can  truly  say,  "  Gravibus  et 
qtiam  plurimis  incommodis  impeditus  stim?"  Domestic  affairs  are  in  this  in- 
stance but  triffling  objects  and  of  no  manner  of  importance  The  care  of  a  new 
Church  now  upon  the  point  of  being  finished  calls  for  my  close  attendance. 

Could  I  visit  it  every  day  it  would  not  be  too  much  considering  the  critical 
58 


1772-1  458 

situation  into  which  it  is  brought.  To  this  you  will  give  me  leave  to  add  the 
length  of  the  Journey  (150  miles  from  my  habitation),  particularly  irksome  to 
one  who  labours  under  a  constant  and  incurable  lameness  of  his  rieht  arm 
and  left  leg,  the  want  of  an  equipage  to  convey  me  with  tolerable  comfort  to 
the  place  of  destination  and  of  a  suitable  attendant  to  render  me  those  per- 
sonal services  which  under  my  indispositions  are  indispensably  requisite.  But 
I  am  sensible  how  disagreeable  the  mention  of  these  bodily  infirmities  must 
be  to  you  who  have  so  many  things  of  infinitely  greater  moment  to  think  of 
and  therefore  desist  under  a  persuasion  that  with  Gentlemen  of  candour  and 
sensibility  the  apologies  I  have  offered  will  be  easily  admissible. 

Revd  worthy  Sir,  &c, 

PHILIP  READING. 


M\  MURRAY  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Reading,  26th  March,  1772. 
Reverend  Sir, 

I  have  hardly  anything  new  to  communicate  concerning  my  Parishioners. 
They  continue  orderly  and  quiet  amidst  the  clamor  &  noise,  contention  &  evil 
speaking  of  the  German  Colonists  who  are  the  body  of  the  people  in  this 
Frontier  County  &  are  every  now  &  then  at  variance  with  one  another  or 
with  their  Ministers  to  the  great  scandal  of  religion  &  their  various  profes- 
sions which  are  chiefly  Lutheran  &  Calvinist  &  are  both  equally  distant  from 
our  Church ;  the  former  as  well  as  the  latter  admitting  Presbyterian  ordina- 
tion &  both  use  organs,  violins  &  ye  Like  in  their  worship.  The  Lutherans  of 
this  Town  are  just  now  a  suing  &  execrating  one  another  on  the  occasion  of 
electing  a  Minister  &  this  satisfaction  they  frequently  indulge  themselves 
being  fonder  of  new  Clergy  than  new  Cloths  which  they  are  parsimonious 
enough  to  wear  threadbare  &  when  they  are  ripe  for  a  change  of  Pastors 
they  make  them  do  so  too,  &  so  starve  them  out  of  place  with  cold  or  hunger. 
Their  subscriptions  are  scanty  at  best  &  these  they  continue  or  withhold  an- 
nually at  pleasure ;    for  in  their  language  they  Hire  a  Minister  generally  for 


459  [*772. 

no  longer  than  a  year  which  renders  his  office  as  contemptible  as  poor.  Their 
elections  are  like  Polish  Diets.  They  meet  again  &  again  &  as  often  dissolve 
in  confusion  till  at  last  tired  out  they  submit  to  any  measure  or  any  Minister 
for  a  time ;  which  makes  yr  Settlements  short  lived  &  unsatisfying  &  vacan- 
cies long. 

These  sad  effects  of  Anarchy  too  evidently  shew  the  necessity  of  some 
Ecclesiastical  Government  in  these  parts  of  ye  world.  Must  not  Christianity 
in  such  circumstances  suffer  in  the  eyes  of  the  heathen  whose  morals  it  shou'd 
mend,  not  corrupt?  Besides  the  members  of  our  own  Church  are  no  more 
than  men  &  may  be  brought  to  think  the  more  likely  of  religion  &  its  Min- 
isters especially  in  those  places  where  they  are  comparatively  but  a  small 
number.  Has  France  or  Spain,  Russia  or  Turkey  left  their  religions  in  such 
a  distractive  state  as  ours  in  British  America?  I  address  a  wise  &  zealous 
advocate  for  an  American  Episcopate  ;  "judge  you  what  I  say." 

I  expect  we  shall  be  in  condition  next  Summer  to  build  a  Church  here, 
which  is  much  wanted. 

Revd  Sir,  &c., 

ALEXR  MURRAY. 


M\  READING  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Apoquiniminck,  October  3d,  1 772. 
Reverend  worthy  Sir, 

But  however  favourable  this  representation  of  the  state 
of  Ecclesiastical  affairs  among  us  may  appear  it  must  not  be  concealed  that 
the  exercise  of  our  duty  brings  us  into  many  trials  and  subjects  us  to  great 
difficulties.  A  fixed  and  determined  opposition  seems  to  be  formed  in  this 
and  by  the  best  accounts  in  many  other  places  against  our  endeavors  in  en- 
larging and  extending  the  borders  of  our  Church,  so  that  we  have  abundant 
reason  to  humble  ourselves  under  the  hand  of  God  and  to  implore  Him  to 


1772.]  46o 

overshadow  this  branch  of  His  Church  (at  the  present  juncture  truly  and  em- 
phatically militant),  with  His  almighty  protection. 

Revd  worthy  Sir,  &c., 

PHILIP  READING. 


M\  PETERS  &  others  to  the  Secretary. 

Philada,  Octr  14,  1772. 
Revd  and  worthy  Sir, 

This  will  be  delivered  to  you  by  Dr.  De  Normandie,  a  worthy  Member  of 
the  Church  of  England  as  well  as  a  Gentleman  of  Fortune,  character  &  great 
public  usefulness  in  this  Province.  Enclosed  is  an  engagement  for  the  sup- 
port of  a  Missionary  for  the  County  of  Bucks  in  this  Province,  a  County  in 
which  there  is  not  a  single  Clergyman  of  our  Church  tho'  there  was  formerly 
a  Missionary  there  and  it  is  one  of  our  interior  Counties  &  a  very  great  dis- 
position in  it,  even  among  the  Quakers  who  are  the  most  numerous  body,  to 
encourage  the  Church  in  preference  to  all  other  religious  denominations  ex- 
cept their  own. 

As  Dr.  DeNormandie  will  wait  upon  you  in  person,  and  can  so  fully  give 
you  an  account  of  this  County  &  you  may  perfectly  depend  upon  the  truth  of 
whatever  he  shall  say  to  you  on  Church  affairs,  we  have  the  less  occasion  to 
be  particular.  This  is  not  properly  opening  a  new  Mission  but  the  restoring 
an  old  one  which  was  discontinued  on  the  ill  conduct  of  one  Mr.  Lindsay  the 
last  Missionary  &  was  occasionally  supplied  by  Mr.  Campbell  of  Burlington 
during  his  life,  but  his  successor,  Mr.  Odell,  has  been  excused  from  taking  any 
charge  of  it.  There  is  a  prospect  of  a  very  flourishing  Mission  in  this  County. 
The  People  of  Bristol  chiefly  excited  by  Dr.  DeNormandie's  zeal  have  en- 
larged their  Church,  which  we  have  this  Summer  alternatively  supplied  for 
them  as  there  is  in  the  Summer  season  a  great  resort  of  strangers  of  Distinc- 
tion to  that  Town  on  account  of  a  mineral  Spring  &  Bath  there  and  one  or 
two  more  churches  are  soon  intended  to  be  built  in  the  County  at  such  a  dis- 
tance as  to  be  supplied  by  the  same  person  who  supplies  Bristol. 

If  you  will  look  into  your  list  you  will  see  how  few  Missionaries  we  have 
in  this  great  &  populous  Province  which  has  more  people  in  it  than  New 


46 1  [1773. 

York  &  New  Jersey  both.  We  hope  then  the  Society  will  make  such  allow- 
ance as  they  are  able  for  a  Missionary  in  Bucks  &  there  is  not  the  least 
doubt  but  the  people,  many  of  whom  have  both  zeal  &  ability  sufficient,  will 
even  do  more  than  their  present  engagement  &  make  the  living  for  their 
Minister  very  respectable. 

The  Gentleman  they  have  applied  for  is  Mr.  Hopkinson  who  is  known  to 
them  &  has  connexions  among  sundry  of  the  most  respectable  members  of 
the  Church  in  that  County  &  we  believe  will  be  of  great  service  among  them. 
Mr.  Hopkinson  is  also  known  to  you  &  has  been  recommended  to  the  Bishop 
of  London  some  years  ago  in  conjunction  with  his  class-mates  Mess".  Mont- 
gomery, Coombe  &  White  so  that  nothing  need  be  added  on  that  head.  He 
is  also  in  full  orders  &  wants  nothing  but  the  nomination  of  the  Society  which 
we  pray  they  may  give  him,  agreeable  to  the  request  of  the  people  as  Mis- 
sionary for  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania. 

We  are,  Revd  &  worthy  Sir,  &c., 

Richard  Peters, 
William  Smith, 
Jacob  Duche. 


Mr.  SMITH  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  October  13th,  1773. 
My  Lord, 

It  is  with  sorrow  we  are  obliged  humbly  to  represent  to 
your  Lordship  that  our  Church  has  lately  suffered  greatly  by  several  unworthy 
men  who  by  the  recommendations  of  those  who  were  not  deserving  the  credit 
they  have  received  have  found  means  to  impose  on  your  Lordship's  goodness 
and  have  got  into  Holy  Orders,  some  of  whom  have  come  to  this  place  and 
some  have  gone  to  Maryland  and  Virginia. 

Mr.  Illing  whom  your  Lordship  sent  out,  is  as  Dr.  Peters  represents  him 
a  worthy  man  but  Mr.  Page  is  every  way  the  reverse.  The  people  in  general 
who  subscribed  and  whose  subscriptions  he  laid  before  your  Lordship  believed 


S 


1 773-]  462 

him  to  be  a  Presbyterian  and  are  chiefly  of  that  persuasion.  He  never  meant 
to  settle  among  them  but  only  to  get  into  Orders.  He  knew  none  of  us 
would  recommend  him.  Nay,  he  knew  that  we  would  write  to  your  Lordship 
against  him  if  we  had  known  of  his  intentions.  Dispairing  ever  to  obtain 
recommendations  from  any  of  the  Clergy  here,  as  his  conduct  has  been  very 
exceptionable  the  short  time  he  was  in  America,  he  applied  just  before  he 
embarked  for  Letters  from  Father  Harding,  a  worthy  Jesuit  in  this  Town,  to 
the  Bishop  of  Canada  with  a  view  to  get  ordained  by  him  and  as  he  pre- 
tended he  meant  afterwards  to  recant  his  Errors  and  commence  Preaching  in 
our  Church.  Harding  who  was  always  in  good  Terms  with  us  discovered  his 
Duplicity  and  want  of  Principle  &  refused  to  have  anything  to  do  with  him. 
He  then  went  among  those  People  on  our  Frontiers  whom  I  have  mentioned. 
What  other  recommendations  he  produced  to  your  Lordship  we  have  not 
heard.  He  never  went  near  the  people  on  Susquehannah  but  on  his  arrival 
immediately  set  up  a  separate  Preacher  in  New  York  without  any  Regard  to 
Order  or  the  Establishment  there. 

My  Lord,  your  most  dutiful  son  and  Servant, 

WILLIAM  SMITH. 


Mess".  PETERS  and  SMITH  to  the  Bishop  of  London. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  29  October,  1773. 
May  it  please  your  Lordship, 

*  *         But  the  principal  thing  we  want  to  now  to  inform  your 

Lordship  of  is  that  by  a  Letter  received  by  Dr.  Smith  from  Mr.  Martin,  Gov- 
ernor of  North  Carolina,  we  are  made  aquainted  with  the  Designs  of  a  cer- 
tain John  Beard  who  was  educated  in  the  College  of  that  City  and  has  taken 
Orders  among  the  Dissenters.  He  has  as  we  are  well  informed  given  offence 
and  been  called  to  account  for  want  of  Sobriety  for  his  own  people  and  now 
wants  to  come  over  to  the  Church.  Governor  Martin  is  good  enough  to  let 
it  be  known  how  Mr.  Beard  came  to  have  his  letters  and  countenance,  and  his 


463  IJ773- 

Letter  is  enclosed  and  we  desire  that  if  Mr  Beard  attempts  to  make  use  of 
Governor  Martin's  or  any  other  recommendations  in  order  to  gain  admittance 
into  Orders,  that  this  our  Letter  may  be  received  as  a  Caveat  against  such 
admission. 

We  always  have  been  and  ever  shall  be  careful  how  we  give  any  Recom- 
mendations to  people  who  offer  themselves  for  Holy  Orders  and  indeed  in 
nothing  are  we,  who  are  ever  upon  the  spot,  liable  to  be  more  imposed  upon 
than  those  who  apply  on  these  occasions  for  our  Recommendations.     We  are, 
Your  Lordship's  most  dutiful  and  obedient  humble  Servants, 

Richard  Peters, 
William  Smith. 


M".  READING  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Apoquiniminck,  December  2,  1773. 
Revd  worthy  Sir, 

The  Parish  in  Maryland  bordering  on  my  Mission  called 

Augustine  Parish  on  Bohemia  River  in  Cecil  county,  of  which  I  gave  the 
Society  a  full  description  in  my  letter  of  November  1 769,  became  vacant  about 
midsummer  1772  by  the  resignation  of  the  legal  Incumbent.  The  affairs  of 
this  Church  had  previously  fallen  into  great  confusion.  The  very  edifice  had 
become  neglected,  forsaken  and  ruinous.  It  now  became  difficult  to  find  a 
clergyman  willing  to  undertake  the  Cure  of  the  Parish  as  the  revenue  is  very 
small,  and  the  payment  of  that,  small  as  it  is,  about  to  be  contested.  The 
place  moreover  abounds  with  Dissenters  of  almost  ever)'  denomination.  The 
Methodists  laid  hold  of  this  opportunity  to  obtain  a  considerable  influence 
among  the  Members  of  the  Church  and  had  procured  a  large  contribution 
with  the  promise  of  a  convenient  lot  of  ground  towards  erecting  an  house  for 
the  celebration  of  religious  worship.  At  the  same  time  the  Dissenters  of 
another  class  made  efforts,  far  from  contemptible  ones,  for  the  like  purpose. 

Matters  were  in  this  discouraging  course  when  his  Excellency  Robert 
Eden,  Esqre,  Governor  of  Maryland,  being  on  a  journey  thro'  this  Neighbour- 


1 773-]  464 

hood  and  lodging  in  the  house  of  a  Gentleman  whose  education  I  had  super- 
intended, sent  an  express  to  me  desiring  an  interview  the  next  Morning.  I 
did  not  fail  to  wait  on  Mr.  Eden  according  to  appointment.  His  Excellency 
after  hinting  in  very  polite  terms  the  favorable  impressions  he  had  received 
of  my  character  proposed  my  undertaking  the  duties  of  this  Parish  as  far  as 
was  consistent  with  the  duties  of  my  Mission.  Upon  this  I  communicated  to 
Governour  Eden  Dr.  Burton's  letter  of  February  20th,  1770,  on  the  subject, 
signifying  the  Society's  approbation  of  such  a  measure  provided  his  Excel- 
lency's consent  was  likewise  obtained.  His  Excellency  upon  perusing  the 
letter  was  pleased  to  say  "That  the  matter  did  not  admit  of  the  least  doubt," 
or  to  that  effect,  and  gave  me  leave  to  officiate  immediately  as  Minister  or 
Reader  of  Augustine  Parish  in  Maryland.  This  interview  was  had  with  and 
parole  appointment  obtained  from  the  Governour  on  Saturday  the  15th  of  last 
May  and  on  Sunday  the  23d  of  the  same  month  my  attendance  commenced  in 
Augustine  Church  which  I  have  continued  down  to  this  date  as  far  as  is 
consistent  with  my  duty  as  Missionary  at  Apoquiniminck. 

My  labours  among  these  people  thro'  the  Divine  blessing  have  been 
attended  with  a  good  degree  of  success.  The  Methodists  after  making  some 
ineffectual  attempts  to  keep  their  ground  withdrew  themselves  and  their 
design  of  building  a  meeting  house  seems  to  be  entirely  laid  aside.  The 
other  class  of  Dissenters  are  likewise  for  the  present  quite  silent  as  to  their 
Scheme  for  the  same  purpose.  The  publick  worship  on  such  Sundays  as 
Divine  Service  is  performed  in  the  Church  is  attended  by  numerous  and  some- 
times crowded  congregations. 

My  appointment  however  to  this  duty  is  attended  with  difficulty  and  oppo- 
sition. The  Province  of  Maryland  with  respect  to  Church  matters  is  in  a 
general  ferment.  Some  Lawyers  have  pretended  to  discover  a  nullity  in  the 
act  establishing  the  Church  and  under  this  pretext  the  Incumbent's  revenue 
in  many  Parishes  is  partially  and  in  some  totally  withheld.  With  respect  to 
myself  I  cannot  hope  to  exercise  the  Ministry  among  them  without  being  more 
or  less  involved  in  the  dispute.  For  altho'  I  am  in  this  appointment  at  no 
higher  title  than  Reader  or  pro  vice  Minister  of  the  Parish  (entirely  confiding 
in  his  Excellency's  word  of  honour  for  it),  yet  the  relish  which  people  have 
conceived  for  those  ill-defined,  misapprehended  terms,  Liberty  and  Patriotism, 
is  so  prevailing  that  some  of  the  Parishioners  I  am  assured,  the  Dissenters 
more  especially,  intend  to  avail  themselves  of  the  supposed  nullity  of  the  act  for 


465  [1773- 

establishing  the  Church  in  bar  of  any  claim  I  might  have  to  the  Ecclesiastical 
dues  of  the  Parish  and  therefore  at  a  Meeting  of  the  Vestry  held  in  August 
last  when  it  was  submitted  to  my  consideration  by  some  present  "Whether  as 
I  could  give  their  Church  only  a  partial  attendance  and  as  it  was  out  of  my 
power  to  reside  in  the  Parish  I  ought  not  to  be  contented  with  such  a  part  of 
the  Revenue  apportioned  with  reference  to  the  whole  (tho*  that  whole  is  far 
from  considerable),  as  should  be  deemed  adequate  to  the  services  I  was  able 
to  render  them?"  I  complied  with  this  proposal  without  hesitation  upon  con- 
dition nevertheless  that  the  residue  or  surplus  of  the  Minister's  tax  should  be 
faithfully  paid  towards  the  purchasing  a  glebe  which  the  Parish  stood  much  in 
need  of.  This  compliance  was  received  with  universal  approbation  and  con- 
sidered as  a  proof  of  my  disinterestedness  in  undertaking  the  Cure  princi- 
pally with  a  view  to  the  advancement  of  religion  in  general  and  the  particular 
interest  of  the  Church.  What  the  issue  will  be  time  only  can  discover.  For 
the  present  I  purpose  by  God's  assistance  to  maintain  the  ground  I  have 
gained  in  the  Church's  cause  with  firmness  and  resolution.  In  all  cases  I  shall 
be  punctual  in  laying  before  the  Honorable  Society  every  step  I  take  in  the 
business,  submitting  at  all  times  my  conduct  and  continuance  in  officiating  in 
Augustine  Parish  to  their  approbation  and  commands. 

My  conduct  in  the  Mission  of  Apoquiniminck  continues  to  be  pursued 
upon  the  same  plan  of  decency  and  good  order  as  described  in  former  letters. 
Not  only  the  regular  and  stated  services  have  been  duly  performed  by  me 
throughout  the  last  Summer  and  Autumn  but  such  other  parts  of  it  have  been 
visited  and  assisted  as  demanded  my  more  immediate  notice  and  stricter 
attendance.  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  one  hundred  and  seven  infants 
and  two  adults  who  had  been  properly  instructed.  The  number  of  my  Com- 
municants is  fifty-six. 

I  am  with  all  duty  and  respect  to  the  Honorable  Society, 
Revd  worthy  Sir,  &c, 

PHILIP  READING. 


1 774-]  466 

M\  SMITH  to  the   Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  May  2d,  1774. 
Revd  and  worthy  Sir, 

*         *  I  shall  be  more  particular  on  the  whole  state  of  this  Mis- 

sion as  well  as  several  other  Missions  in  my  next.  We  are  still  plagued  and 
the  Church  hurt  by  irregular  preachers  that  come  out.  One  Rowland  has  just 
arrived  here,  of  a  very  bad  character,  to  whom  we  had  refused  recommenda- 
tions &  therefore  he  went  to  Wales,  got  recommended  as  a  Curate,  and  was 
ordained  Deacon  by  the  Bishop  of  Sl.  Asaph  &  Priest  by  the  Bishop  of  Here- 
ford ;  and  then  immediately  embarked  for  this  Place.  For  God's  sake,  let 
him  have  no  appointment ;  for  no  Mission  in  this  Province  will  receive  him 
and  we  must  even  write  to  our  Brethren  in  other  Provinces  to  make  known 
his  character.  How  long  shall  we  groan  under  this  hardship  of  bad  people 
going  from  America  and  imposing  on  our  Bishops,  all  which  might  in  a  great 
measure  be  prevented  if  we  had  a  Bishop  here. 

Worthy  Sir,  &c., 

WILLIAM  SMITH. 


M\  SMITH  &  others  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  May  17,  1774. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  We  are  not  yet  clear  that  it  would  be  a  proper  measure 

to  erect  the  places  he  now  supplies  into  a  Mission  but  as  a  person  of  his  qual- 
ifications, capable  of  preaching  both  in  German  and  English,  would  be  truly 
useful  on  our  Frontiers  and  be  the  means  of  gathering  many  congregations 
we  would  humbly  propose  to  the  Society  to  make  some  annual  provision  for 


467  [i774- 

Mr.  Illing  as  an  Itinerant  in  such  parts  of  the  Province  as  it  may  appear  to  the 
Episcopal  Clergy  here  he  can  be  most  useful  in  until  we  can  more  clearly  see 
in  what  place  he  can  be  settled  to  the  greatest  advantage. 

There  is  no  Episcopal  Clergyman  in  the  whole  County  of  Bucks.  It  might 
be  made  an  important  Mission.  Mr.  Hopkinson  is  now  about  to  return  to  his 
native  Country  &  is  willing  to  take  the  charge  of  that  Mission  for  a  time 
where  he  will  be  acceptable  to  the  people  if  the  Society  will  be  pleased  to 
make  a  Provision  for  him  such  as  the  state  of  their  Funds  will  admit. 

Revd  Sir,  &c., 

Richard  Peters, 
William  Smith, 
Jacob  Duche. 


M\  BARTON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Lancaster  in  Pennsylvania,  July  i,  1774. 
Reverend  Sir, 

My  Mission  gains  such  ground  as  to  require  greater 
duties  than  it  is  in  the  power  of  one  person  to  perform.  The  Churches  are 
generally  full.  That  at  Pequea  in  particular  is  much  encreased.  Besides  the 
stated  duties  claimed  by  these  Churches,  I  am  often  obliged  to  itinerate  to  a 
considerable  distance  to  serve  others  who  are  continually  soliciting  a  share  of 
my  labours. 

Your  obed',  &c., 

THOs  BARTON. 


1 775-]  468 

M\  READING  to  the  Secretary. 


AroQUiNiMiNCK,  March  15,  1775. 
Revd  worthy  Sir, 

The  Mission  of  Apoquiniminck  situate  in  the  lower  part  of  Newcastle 
County  on  Delaware  River  extends  itself  thro'  three  divisions  or  hundreds  of 
the  said  County.  The  Inhabitants  are  pretty  thick  settled  and  consist  chiefly 
of  the  descendants  of  some  Dutch  Calvinists  and  a  promiscuous  number  of 
Emigrants  from  the  three  Kingdoms  of  Great  Britain.  These  People  have 
long  been  objects  of  attention  to  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel,  a 
Congregation  having  united  themselves  here  according  to  the  institution  of 
the  Church  of  England  from  a  very  early  period.  The  new  light  Frensy 
which  broke  out  at  Mr.  Whitefield's  first  appearance  on  the  Stage  of  America 
took  deep  root  in  this  place  and  occasioned  some  defection  from  the  Church. 
Her  Members  are  however  yet  considerable  enough  to  merit  a  good  degree 
of  regard.  They  are  remarkable  for  a  regular  devout  behaviour  in  the  time 
of  Divine  Service ;  the  ordinances  of  Religion  are  in  great  esteem  among 
them,  and  we  boast  a  good  number  of  actual  Communicants. 

But  what  makes  this  Mission  of  great  consequence  to  the  Society  and  in- 
deed to  every  sincere  lover  of  the  Protestant  cause  is  its  lying  contiguous  to 
a  considerable  Popish  Seminary  in  the  Neighbouring  Province  of  Maryland. 
This  Seminary  is  under  the  direction  of  the  Jesuits,  an  order  of  men  supposed 
to  want  neither  abilities  nor  assiduity  in  supporting  the  Roman  Catholic  interest. 
A  Priest  of  this  order  used  formerly  to  celebrate  Mass  at  stated  seasons  within 
the  Bounds  of  Apoquiniminck  but  the  present  Missionary  having  fixed  his  res- 
idence within  a  convenient  distance  of  the  place  which  used  to  be  the  scene  of 
the  Jesuit's  transactions,  by  the  blessing  of  God  a  check  has  been  given  to 
these  attempts  and  no  Mass  has  been  celebrated  in  Apoquiniminck  for  some 
years  past.  Upon  this  occasion  it  must  with  gratitude  be  acknowledged  that 
next  to  the  good  Providence  of  God  it  is  chiefly  owing  to  the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel  that  the  Church  of  England  is  visibly  supported 
in  this  place  and  that  many  of  his  Majesty's  American  subjects  have  not  been 
seduced  to  the  Popish  religion. 

Such  was  the  account  of  my  Mission  transmitted  thro'  Dr.  Smith's  hands 


469  [1775- 

to  Archbishop  Seeker  in  1 760  which  still  continues  on  the  same  respectable 
footing  as  above  described  and  has  been  more  fully  set  forth  in  the  many  let- 
ters I  have  wrote  relative  to  it.  Our  present  danger  indeed  doth  not  arise 
so  much  from  the  avowed  designs  of  Papists  against  the  Church,  but  from  the 
attempts  of  Dissenters  of  various  kinds.  We  have  abundant  reason  for  ap- 
prehensions because  by  the  people  on  this  quarter  no  efforts  are  left  unes- 
sayed  to  draw  off  the  weak  and  unwary  from  our  communion.  It  was  princi- 
pally for  this  reason  that  I  undertook  the  care  of  the  Parish  in  Maryland 
joining  upon  my  Mission  of  which  measure  you  was  pleased  to  signify  the 
Honorable  Society's  disapprobation.  The  scantiness  of  the  Incumbent's  in- 
come was  such  that  no  Clergyman  of  abilities  or  diligence  could  be  prevailed 
upon  to  reside  in  that  Parish  and  its  being  constantly  deserted  afforded  a  de- 
sirable opportunity  to  enthusiasts  of  all  kinds  to  try  their  abilities  in  it.  The 
love  of  novelty  and  the  want  of  a  regular  Ministry  induced  many  to  follow 
any  one  who  made  his  appearance  among  them  in  the  character  of  a  Preacher. 
The  vicinity  of  the  place  to  Apoquiniminck  brought  my  own  flock  into  danger 
from  intruders  and  (before  the  Society's  pleasure  in  the  matter  was  known), 
I  thought  the  best  step  I  could  pursue  for  the  safety  of  my  own  cure  was  to 
endeavor  to  preserve  the  unity  of  the  Church  in  this  Parish  by  engaging  my- 
self in  the  Ministry  of  it  as  far  as  was  compatible  with  my  other  pastoral 
duties. 

The  Church  here  continues  in  as  good  a  state  as  can  be  expected  in  these 
times  of  threatening  and  danger.  Many  are  the  rebuffs  I  am  obliged  to  en- 
counter on  the  subject  of  the  present  commotions,  notwithstanding  which  I 
am  not  deterred  or  discouraged  from  inculcating  the  principles  of  Loyalty  to 
our  most  gracious  Sovereign  and  a  due  submission  to  the  powers  of  Govern- 
ment on  all  proper  occasions. 

Reverend  worthy  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient 

most  humble  Servant, 

PHILIP  READING. 


1 775-]  47o 

Letter  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London. 


My  Lord, 

We  now  sit  down  under  deep  affliction  of  mind  to  address  your  Lordship 
upon  a  subject,  in  which  the  very  existence  of  our  Church  in  America  seems 
to  be  interested.  It  has  long  been  our  fervent  Prayer  to  Almighty  God,  that 
the  unhappy  controversy  between  the  Parent  Country  and  these  Colonies 
might  be  terminated  upon  Principles  honourable  and  advantageous  to  both, 
without  proceeding  to  the  extremities  of  civil  war  and  the  horrors  of  Blood- 
shed. We  have  long  lamented  that  such  a  spirit  of  Wisdom  and  Love  could 
not  mutually  prevail,  as  might  devise  some  liberal  Plan  for  this  benevolent 
Purpose;  and  we  have  spared  no  means  in  our  power  for  advancing  such  a 
spirit  so  far  as  our  private  Influence  and  advice  could  extend.  But  as  to  pub- 
lic advice  we  have  hitherto  thought  it  our  Duty  to  keep  our  Pulpits  wholly 
clear  from  every  thing  bordering  on  this  contest,  and  to  pursue  that  line  of 
Reason  and  Moderation  which  became  our  Characters;  equally  avoiding  what- 
ever might  irritate  the  Tempers  of  the  people,  or  create  a  suspicion  that  we 
were  opposed  to  the  Interest  of  the  Country  in  which  we  live. 

But  the  Time  is  now  come,  my  Lord,  when  even  our  silence  would  be  mis- 
construed, and  when  we  are  called  upon  to  take  a  more  public  part.  The 
Continental  Congress  have  recommended  the  20th  of  next  month  as  a  day  of 
Fasting,  Prayer  &  Humiliation  thro'  all  the  Colonies.  Our  Congregations  too 
of  all  Ranks  have  associated  themselves,  determined  never  to  submit  to  the 
Parliamentary  claim  of  taxing  them  at  pleasure;  and  the  Blood  already  spilt 
in  maintaining  this  claim  is  unhappily  alienating  the  affections  of  many  from 
the  Parent  Country,  and  cementing  them  closer  in  the  most  fixed  purpose  of 
a  Resistance,  dreadful  even  in  Contemplation. 

Under  these  Circumstances  our  People  call  upon  us,  and  think  they  have 
a  right  to  our  advice  in  the  most  public  manner  from  the  Pulpit.  Should  we 
refuse,  our  Principles  would  be  misrepresented,  and  even  our  religious  useful- 
ness destroyed  among  our  People.  And  our  complying  may  perhaps  be 
interpreted  to  our  disadvantage  in  the  Parent  Country.  Under  these  difficul- 
ties (which  have  been  increased  by  the  necessity  some  of  our  Brethren  have 
apprehended  themselves  under  of  quitting  their  Charges),  and  being  at  a 
great  distance  from  the  advice  of  our  Superiors,  we  had  only  our  own  Con- 


47i  [i775- 

sciences  and  each  other  to  consult,  and  have  accordingly  determined  on  that 
part,  which  the  general  good  seem  to  require.  We  were  the  more  willing  to 
comply  with  the  request  of  our  Fellow  Citizens,  as  we  were  sure  their  Res- 
pect for  us  was  so  great,  that  they  did  not  even  wish  any  thing  from  us  incon- 
sistent with  our  characters  as  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  of  Peace. 

Military  Associations  are  no  new  Things  in  this  Province  where  we  never 
had  any  regular  Militia  Law.  They  subsisted  during  the  different  Alarms  in 
the  last  War,  and  they  now  subsist  under  the  special  countenance  of  our  own 
Assemblies,  professing  the  most  steady  Loyalty  to  His  Majesty,  together  with 
an  earnest  Desire  of  re-establishing  our  former  harmony  with  the  Mother 
Country,  and  submitting  in  all  things  agreeable  to  the  ancient  modes  of  Gov- 
ernment among  us. 

Viewing  matters  in  this  Light,  and  considering  not  only  that  they  were 
members  of  our  own  Congregations  who  called  upon  us,  but  that  Sermons 
have  heretofore  been  preached  to  such  Bodies,  we  thought  it  adviseable  to  take 
our  Turn  with  the  Ministers  of  other  Denominations;  and  a  Sermon  was 
accordingly  preached  by  Dr.  Smith  the  1 7th  Instant,  in  which  he  thought  it  nec- 
essary to  obviate  any  misrepresentations  that  might  be  made  of  the  Principles 
of  our  Church. 

Mr.  Duche  is  likewise  to  preach  on  the  7th  July,  upon  a  similar  Invitation; 
and  all  our  Clergy  throughout  the  Colonies,  we  believe,  will  preach  on  the 
Day  recommended  by  the  Continental  Congress  for  a  Fast.  And  God  knows, 
that  exclusive  of  such  a  Recommendation,  there  never  was  a  Time  when 
Prayer  and  Humiliation  were  more  incumbent  upon  us. 

Tho'  it  has  of  late  been  difficult  for  us  to  advise,  or  even  correspond  as 
usual,  with  our  Brethren  the  Clergy  of  New  York,  we  find  that  they  have 
likewise  in  their  Turn  officiated  to  their  Provincial  Congress  now  sitting  there, 
as  Mr.  Duche  did  both  this  year  &  the  last,  at  the  opening  of  the  Continental 
Congress. 

Upon  this  fair  and  candid  state  of  things,  we  hope  your  Lordship  will  think 
our  conduct  has  been  such  as  became  us;  and  we  pray  that  we  may  be  con- 
sidered as  among  His  Majesty's  most  dutiful  &  loyal  subjects  in  this  and  every 
other  Transaction  of  our  Lives.  Would  to  God  that  we  could  become  media- 
tors for  the  Settlement  of  the  unnatural  Controversy  that  now  distracts  a  once 
happy  Empire.  All  that  we  can  do  is  to  pray  for  such  a  Settlement,  and  to 
pursue  those  Principles  of  Moderation  and  Reason  which  your  Lordship  has 


I775-]  472 

always  recommended  to  us.  We  have  neither  Interest  nor  Consequence  suf- 
ficient to  take  any  Lead  in  the  Affairs  of  this  great  Country.  The  People 
will  feel  and  judge  for  themselves  in  matters  affecting  their  own  civil  happi- 
ness; and  were  we  capable  of  any  attempt  which  might  have  the  appearance 
of  drawing  them  to  what  they  think  would  be  a  Slavish  Resignation  of  their 
Rights,  it  would  be  destructive  to  ourselves,  as  well  as  the  Church  of  which 
we  are  Ministers.  And  it  is  but  Justice  to  our  Superiors,  and  your  Lordship 
in  particular,  to  declare  that  such  a  Conduct  has  never  been  required  of  us. 
Indeed,  could  it  possibly  be  required,  we  are  not  backward  to  say  that  our 
Consciences  would  not  permit  us  to  injure  the  Rights  of  this  Country.  We 
are  to  leave  our  families  in  it,  and  cannot  but  consider  its  Inhabitants  intitled, 
as  well  as  their  Brethren  in  England,  to  the  Right  of  granting  their  own 
money ;  and  that  every  attempt  to  deprive  them  of  this  Right  will  either  be 
found  abortive  in  the  end,  or  attended  with  Evils  which  would  infinitely  out- 
weigh all  the  Benefit  to  be  obtained  by  it. 

Such  being  our  Persuasion,  we  must  again  declare  it  to  be  our  constant 
Prayer,  in  which  we  are  sure  your  Lordship  joins,  that  the  hearts  of  good  and 
benevolent  men  in  both  Countries  may  be  directed  towards  a  Plan  of  Recon- 
ciliation, worthy  of  being  offered  by  a  great  Nation,  that  have  long  been  the 
Patrons  of  Freedom  throughout  the  World;  and  not  unworthy  of  being 
accepted  by  a  People  sprung  from  them,  and  by  birth  claiming  a  Participation 
of  their  Rights. 

Our  late  worthy  Governour,  the  Honble  Richd  Penn,  Esqre,  does  us  the 
favour  to  be  the  Bearer  hereof,  and  has  been  pleased  to  say  he  will  deliver  it 
to  your  Lordship  in  Person.  To  him  therefore  we  beg  leave  to  refer  your 
Lordship  for  the  Truth  of  the  Facts  above  set  forth.  At  the  ensuing  Meeting 
of  our  Corporation  for  the  Relief  of  Widows,  &c,  which  will  be  the  first  week 
in  October  next,  we  shall  have  an  Opportunity  of  seeing  a  Number  of  our 
Brethren  together  and  consulting  more  generally  with  them  upon  the  present 
state  of  our  affairs  and  shall  be  happy  on  all  occasions  in  the  Continuance  of 
your  Lordship's  paternal  Advice  and  Protection. 

(Signed)  Richard  Peters, 

W"  Smith, 
Jacob  Duche, 
Thomas  Coombe, 
William  Stringer 
June  30,  1775.  William  White. 


473  [i775- 

Mr.  PETERS  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  4th  July,  1775. 
Reverend  Sir, 

*  Now  indeed  necessity  has  constrained  me  to  join  in  a 
letter  with  my  Brethren  of  this  City  to  represent  to  his  Lordship  the  calami- 
tous state  of  our  Church  on  account  of  the  unnatural  war  which  is  carrying 
on  in  our  very  Bowels,  and  I  trust  our  open  and  ingenious  acknowledgment 
of  the  reasons  of  our  present  conduct  will  be  received  with  the  tenderness  of 
a  Father  ;  and  that  no  fault  will  be  imputed  to  us.  We  cannot  do  otherwise 
than  we  have  done  and  all  sound  principles  will  speak  in  our  favour.  I  hope 
we  shall  have  your  good  heart  along  us  and  that  you  will  be  pleased  to  favour 
us  with  an  early  account  of  the  reception  our  joint  letter  meets  with  and  also 
with  any  further  intelligence  you  may  think  will  be  of  use  to  us. 

I  am,  Dear  Sir, 

RICHARD  PETERS. 


Mr.  SMITH  to  the  Bishop  of  London. 

Philadelphia,  July  8th,  1775. 
My  Lord, 

The  enclosed  Letter  signed  by  the  Clergy  of  our  Churches  in  this  City 
was  drawn  up  after  frequent  and  serious  Consultations  with  each  other  and  is 
dictated  by  Truth  and  a  most  dutiful  regard  to  your  Lordship  as  well  as  to 
the  true  Interest  of  the  Mother  Country. 

The  Sermon  referred  to  in  our  joint  Letter  being  now  published  is 
enclosed.  No  man  has  labored  more  earnestly  than  myself  to  avert  the 
dreadful  Calamity  in  which  both  Countries  are  now  involved.  God  knows 
that  my  Endeavors  to  promote  conciliatory  measures  were  so  strong  during 
the  meeting  of  our  provincial  Convention  last  Summer  whereof  I  was  a  mem- 


1 775-]  474 

ber  that  I  was  considered  as  one  willing  to  sacrifice  essential  liberty  for  tem- 
porary safety  and  even  as  an  advocate  for  the  measures  of  Administration 
respecting  this  country.  I  persevered  however  to  recommend  moderation  till 
we  finished  those  Instructions  to  our  assembly  which  were  generally  approved 
in  England  as  a  rational  plan  of  accommodating  our  differences.  But  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  did  not  wholly  adopt  them.  Tho'  I  thus  took  a  part  while 
matters  were  under  deliberation,  I  have  since  that  time  wholly  declined  being 
of  any  new  Committee  or  taking  any  public  part  in  affairs  lamenting  the  Evils 
which  I  saw  approaching  (as  I  verily  believed),  for  want  of  that  benevolent 
spirit  of  Christianity,  mutual  good  will  and  Zeal  for  the  Good  of  the  whole 
Empire,  which  if  they  could  prevail  might  easily  compromise  this  unnatural 
difference,  and  as  Years  are  now  growing  upon  me  and  the  Bustle  of  the 
World  is  now  very  little  my  passion,  Nothing  could  have  called  me  forth  but 
the  joint  advice  of  my  Brethren  and  the  reasons  set  forth  in  our  joint  Letter 
to  your  Lordship.  But  having  once  consented  to  appear  again  in  public  I 
would  not  violate  my  principles  nor  be  cold  to  the  Interests  of  America  or  of 
the  Mother  Country  which  are  inseparably  connected,  nor  could  I  suffer  our 
Church  or  Clergy  in  America  to  be  under  Imputations  which  I  am  sure  as  far 
as  I  know  them  they  do  not  merit. 

It  is  undoubtedly  the  wish  (indeed  too  openly  avowed),  of  some  in  this 
Country  to  have  the  Church  Clergy  considered  as  Tools  of  Power,  Slavish  in 
their  tenets  and  privately  Enemies  to  the  principles  of  the  Revolution.  Could 
this  notion  once  generally  prevail  it  would  give  a  deadly  wound  to  the  Church 
in  this  country.  Indeed  I  question  whether  we  should  have  the  appearance 
of  a  Congregation  in  it. 

Thus,  my  Lord,  I  have  with  the  utmost  Candor  and  Humility  stated  my 
views  in  this  Sermon  the  composition  of  which  was  one  of  the  most  trying 
Incidents  in  my  Life.  Permit  me  to  entreat  your  Lordship's  perusal  of  it 
with  a  view  benevolent  to  the  Times  and  circumstances.  I  hope  then  it  may 
appear  to  have  proceeded  from  the  purest  Intentions  and  to  breathe  that  spirit 
of  moderation  and  Virtue  wherewith  I  know  your  Lordship  would  wish  those 
whom  you  honor  with  your  protection  to  be  distinguished.  Neither  the 
Church  nor  the  Credit  of  the  Parent  Country  so  far  as  we  are  considered  to 
be  its  Advocates  can  be  promoted  by  any  other  conduct  on  our  part. 

I  trust  that  this  unhappy  contest  will  yet  be  settled  upon  a  plan  of  mutual 
Interest  and  that  no  retrospect  to  our  conduct  shall  hurt  our  future  religious 


475  [i775- 

usefulness  or  that  we  shall  ever  stand  justly  chargeable  with  widening  the 
Breach  or  encouraging  Hostilities  by  any  misrepresentations  of  Facts  so  far 
as  we  are  necessarily  called  to  take  any  public  part. 

I  am,  my  Lord,  your  most  dutiful  son  and  Servant, 

WILLIAM  SMITH. 

P.  S.  I  have  taken  the  Liberty  to  refer  my  good  friend  Dr.  Hind  to  this 
Letter  and  to  our  joint  address  to  your  Lordship;  the  purport  of  which  I  have 
briefly  mentioned  to  him. 


M\  SMITH  to  the  Secretary. 


Philadelphia,  July  10th,  1775. 
Revd  &  worthy  Sir, 

The  several  letters  which  you  have  directed  to  my  care  by  the  last  Ships, 
viz:  to  Messrs.  Tingly,  Battwell,  Curry,  Murray,  Craig,  &  Magaw  are  duly 
forwarded.  Their  difficulties  in  their  Missions  are  greatly  increased  by  the 
present  alarming  state  of  things  &  never  were  men  in  a  more  trying  or  deli- 
cate situation.  We  had  hitherto  with  one  consent  and  one  mind  kept  our 
pulpits  wholly  free  from  everything  bordering  on  the  present  unnatural  con- 
troversy. But  now  our  people  have  all  taken  up  Arms  and  entered  into  asso- 
ciations never  to  submit  to  the  Parliamentary  claim  of  taxing  them  at  pleasure. 
We  see  nothing  in  our  Churches  but  men  in  their  uniforms  &  tho'  they  excuse 
us  on  Sundays  yet  they  are  now  every  where  requesting  occasional  sermons 
on  the  present  situation  of  things  The  case  of  the  poor  Missionaries  is  hard. 
To  comply  may  offend  their  protectors  and  those  that  support  them  in  the 
Parent  Country.  To  refuse  would  leave  them  without  Congregations  every 
where  ;  and  perhaps  it  is  more  the  wish  of  some  that  they  should  refuse  than 
comply. 

We  intended  to  have  held  a  general  meeting  to  consult  together  on  these 
difficulties  but  found  that  it  might  involve  us  in  new  difficulties  by  having  it 
suspected  we  met  for  purposes  of  another  kind.  All  these  difficulties  en- 
creased  from  the  necessity  some  of  our  Brethren  apprehended  themselves  in 


1 775-]  476 

of  quitting  their  charges  and  going  to  England.  I  wish  they  could  have  stood 
their  ground  which  I  think  might  possibly  have  been  accomplished  without 
any  unworthy  compliances  on  their  part ;  for  when  the  Shepherds  are  out 
of  the  way  the  Flocks  will  be  scattered.  Some  of  Dr.  Chandler's  Congrega- 
tion whom  I  have  seen,  do  insist  that  he  would  have  been  perfectly  safe  in 
staying  ;  but  of  that  matter  he  and  his  family  perhaps  could  only  judge  or 
at  least  in  such  a  way  as  to  satisfy  his  own  mind.  We  have  not  been  able  of 
late  to  correspond  with  our  Brethren  in  New  York  so  that  I  have  not  the  par- 
ticulars of  Dr.  Cooper's  case  but  have  heard  that  he  was  under  an  evident 
necessity  of  retiring  for  a  time.  It  is  a  hard  situation  when  such  dangers 
arise  from  endeavors  to  support  order,  &c.  But  we  are  told  that  these  mat- 
ters do  not  belong  to  us  or  that  we  are  not  to  be  busy  in  them  ;  or  that  the 
submission  we  would  enjoy  amounts  to  slavery.  I  hope  &  believe  that  those 
of  our  Clergy  who  are  now  with  you  will  shew  themselves  Friends  to  America 
in  the  truest  sense  &  yet  convince  their  opponents  that  they  mistook  their 
principles  or  suffered  themselves  to  be  imposed  upon.  They  have  it  now  in 
their  power  to  become  mediators  in  this  contest  &  to  be  entitled  to  the  bless- 
ing of  thousands  on  their  return.  I  am  about  writing  to  them  &  suggesting 
what  I  think  they  might  do  ;  but  cannot  finish  by  this  opportunity  of  which  you 
will  please  to  acquaint  them  when  you  see  them.  But  to  return  from  this  di- 
gression. If  our  Clergy  were  generally  to  quit  their  people  at  this  time  I  say 
we  should  not  have  the  appearance  of  a  Church  or  people  left.  A  conduct, 
therefore,  of  the  most  prudent  nature  is  required  from  us.  We  need  not 
widen  the  breach  &  yet  we  may  wish  well  to  (nay,  in  all  decency  &  firmness 
contend  for),  the  just  rights  of  America  ;  &  so  far  indulge  our  people  as  to 
convince  them  that  the  Clergy  of  our  Church  are  as  true  Friends  to  liberty  & 
as  much  devoted  to  the  constitutional  &  just  rights  of  their  Country,  as  any 
other  men  in  America  and  upon  this  plan  we  have  all  judged  it  our  duty  to 
prepare  for  keeping  the  fast  recommended  by  the  Congress  to  be  kept  July 
20th  &  also  not  to  decline  our  turns  of  the  occasional  service  required  of  us 
by  our  people  at  other  times  ;  hoping  our  prudence  and  consciences  may  lead 
us  safely  thro'  the  difficulties  with  which  we  are  beset:  indeed,  exclusive  of 
the  recommendation,  never  was  fasting  and  humiliation  more  our  duties. 

We  have  stated  all  these  matters  fully  in  a  Letter  to  the  Bishop  of  London, 
an  exact  copy  of  which  is  enclosed.  The  original  is  gone  two  days  ago  by 
the  Honorable  Richard  Penn,  Esqr.,  our  late  Governor,  who  is  to  deliver  it  in 


477  [i775- 

person  as  you  will  see  by  the  copy.  I  need  not  add  therefore  that  this  copy 
is  only  sent  to  you  in  case  of  an  accident  which  I  pray  God  to  avert  from  a 
valuable  man,  viz' :  that  if  the  original  should  not  come  to  hand  in  any  prob- 
able time  after  you  receive  this  you  will  then  in  our  behalf  deliver  the  copy. 
For  as  Mr.  Penn  has  undertaken  this  business  it  would  not  be  delicate  to  an- 
ticipate his  kind  intentions  by  delivering  a  copy  before  he  may  get  up  to  Lon- 
don. I  need  say  no  more  on  this  head,  as  your  own  prudence  will  direct  the 
rest  &  lead  you  to  make  the  proper  use  of  the  knowledge  you  will  derive  of 
our  circumstances  from  these  papers.  I  enclose  you  a  copy  of  the  Sermon 
referred  to  in  the  letter  to  the  Bishop.  I  am  sure  you  will  read  it  with  can- 
dour and  a  benevolent  view  to  our  situation  at  this  time.  Mr.  Duche  preached 
a  similar  Sermon  last  Friday.  Mr.  Coombe  is  next  in  turn.  Our  Mission- 
aries are  likewise  preparing  in  their  several  Districts  &  Mr.  Batwell  and  Mr. 
Barton,  I  hear,  have  preached  to  different  bodies  in  their  large  Missions.  Mr. 
Duche's  Sermon  is  requested  for  the  Press.  How  many  more  may  be  printed 
I  cannot  tell.  I  believe  few  of  our  Clergy  are  ambitious  of  that  honor  &  seem 
willing  the  matter  should  rest  as  I  have  put  it  in  my  Sermon  ;  wherein  I  had 
lead  the  way  &  travelled  in  an  untried  path.  No  man  has  labored  more  earn- 
estly than  myself  to  avert  the  dreadful  calamities  in  which  both  Countries 
are  now  involved.  I  wrote  to  you  the  motives  of  my  conduct  last  year  when 
I  assisted  in  preparing  instructions  for  our  Assembly  which  were  generally 
thought  in  England  to  contain  the  most  reasonable  plan  of  reconciliation  yet 
proposed.  From  that  moment  I  declined  any  further  public  concern  in  affairs  ; 
lamenting  in  private  the  evils  which  I  saw  approaching  as  I  verily  believed  for 
want  of  that  benevolent  spirit  of  Christianity,  mutual  temper  &  zeal  for  the 
good  of  the  whole  Empire,  which  ought  to  have  drawn  Brethren  to  consult 
together  before  blood  was  spilt  &  coercive  measures  pursued.  Had  this  been 
the  case,  I  still  hoped  a  happy  reconciliation  &  till  it  becomes  the  case,  the 
day  of  our  felicity  cannot  dawn.  My  exhortations  &  wishes  have  been  so  fre- 
quent on  this  head  that  I  have  ever  been  considered  as  willing  to  sacrifice  es- 
sential liberty  to  temporary  safety,  and  as  an  advocate  for  the  measures  of  ad- 
ministration against  the  Colonies.  But  I  am  above  paying  any  regard  to  the 
opinions  of  heated  times.  Tho'  I  wish  for  peace  I  would  not  make  an  undue 
sacrifice  to  obtain  it.  Tho'  I  wish  not  to  be  forward  or  busy  in  speaking  & 
tho'  I  could  have  wished  our  Pulpits  to  have  been  wholly  left  for  the  usual 
purposes  of  the  Gospel,  yet  when  unavoidably  called  to  speak  from  thence  I 


I775-]  478 

could  not  appear  cold  to  the  Interests  of  this  or  the  Parent  Country  which 
appear  to  me  inseparably  connected.  I  could  not  betray  the  cause  of  univer- 
sal liberty ;  nor  suffer  our  Church  or  Clergy  to  labor  under  the  imputation  of 
departing  from  those  principles  which  distinguished  some  of  her  brightest  Lu- 
minaries near  a  century  past.  For  my  own  heart  not  only  dictates  these  prin- 
ciples ;  but  I  am  sure  also  that  they  are  the  principles  of  all  our  Brethren  in 
these  parts ;  and  were  we  to  suffer  the  contrary  notion  to  prevail  (and  some 
indeed  wish  it  may  prevail),  namely  that  the  Church  Clergy  are  tools  of  power, 
slavish  in  their  tenets  and  secret  enemies  to  the  principles  of  the  Revolution, 
it  would,  as  I  said,  give  a  deadly  wound  to  the  Church  in  America. 

But  to  conclude  this  long  letter.  I  leave  the  Sermon  to  your  own  candor. 
Some  thousands  have  been  disposed  of  here  in  a  day  or  two.  It  was  my  de- 
sire that  there  might  not  be  one  intemperate  expression  in  it,  or  one  senti- 
ment that  does  not  tend  to  a  happy  reconciliation  upon  any  plan  that  does  not 
require  an  absolute  submission  which  would  deprive  us  of  every  right  by 
which  Britons  ought  to  be  distinguished.  The  Preface  has  fully  set  forth  the 
design  of  the  composition  ;  &  I  verily  believe  if  I  had  not  stepped  forth  on 
this  occasion,  we  should  all  have  been  viewed  in  a  light  we  would  not  wish  to 
merit. 

You  see,  my  dear  Sir,  that  this  is  a  long  and  free  letter.  I  have  no  copy 
of  it,  &  your  own  prudence  will  tell  you  that  it  is  intended  for  no  public  use 
but  only  to  satisfy  you  and  enable  you  to  satisfy  others  of  the  motives  of  our 
conduct.  Much  hurt  has  happened  to  individuals  in  this  Country  from  Letters 
and  therefore  I  now  write  but  seldom.  The  letter  to  the  Bishop,  if  his  Lord- 
ship pleases,  may  be  read  to  the  Society ;  but  we  think  with  all  humility  it 
ought  not  to  be  made  any  other  public  use  of.  If  you  think  any  thing  from 
this  letter  necessary  you  will  please  to  take  memorandums  of  them  should 
you  have  occasion  to  mention  any  thing  about  it  to  the  Society. 

Excuse  these  little  anxieties  as  they  are  a  testimony  of  the  most  perfect 
confidence  in  your  goodness  and  Friendship.     I  must  conclude, 

And  am,  dear  &  worthy  Sir,  &c, 

WILLM  SMITH. 


479  [1775- 

M".  SMITH  to  the  Secretary, 


Revd  and  worthy  Sir, 


(EXTRACT.) 

Philadelphia,  28th  Aug5*,  1775. 


#         * 


The  Americans  continue  firm  in  the  measures  they  have 
adopted  for  opposing-  Parliamentary  taxation  and  the  Colony  of  Georgia  has 
now  joined  the  other  twelve  Colonies.  Administration  can  expect  nothing 
by  hopes  of  disunion  here.  Would  to  God  that  a  suspension  of  hostilities  & 
a  negociation  could  take  Place  before  either  side  have  proceeded  too  far  in 
measures  so  ruinous  to  both.  For  this  I  pray  &  for  this  I  labor  daily  &  in 
such  a  way  perhaps  as  may  subject  me  to  the  blame  of  the  violent  of  both 
sides.  But  I  look  far  beyond  the  present  heated  times.  I  know  the  dignity 
of  the  Parent  state  may  be  well  supported  without  evading  any  essential  right 
of  the  Colonies,  &  till  a  plan  for  this  purpose  is  devised  and  executed  we  can 
never  more  expect  a  return  of  our  former  harmony.  It  was  with  a  view  to 
propagate  these  principles  that  my  Sermon  was  drawn  up  as  I  mentioned  in 
my  last.  Whether  it  may  be  considered  in  that  light  on  your  side  of  the  At- 
lantic I  know  not.  But  God  knows  my  love  is  strong  &  my  zeal  ardent  for 
the  prosperity  of  both  Countries. 

Since  I  wrote  you  all  our  Clergy  within  my  knowledge,  two  only  excepted 
in  four  Provinces,  have  Preached  on  the  fast  of  July  20th.  Some  of  their  Ser- 
mons are  printed  &  more  in  the  press.  You  will  herewith  receive  two  of  Mr. 
Duche  &  one  of  Mr.  Coombe's.  Please  to  communicate  them  to  the  Lord 
Bishop  of  London.  His  Lordship  will  be  pleased  to  peruse  them.  He  will 
thereby  be  enabled  to  judge  of  us  all  as  he  has  done  that  honor  to  mine ;  & 
the  circumstances  in  which  we  are  placed  cannot  be  easily  known  by  those 
who  are  at  a  distance.  But  we  hope  our  present  conduct  will  be  justified 
from  a  recollection  of  that  prudence  and  temper  which  we  have  endeavored 
to  exercise  on  all  former  occasions ;  &  the  proper  allowances  for  youth  and 
riper  years  to  be  likewise  made.  I  am  more  and  more  convinced  that  had 
our  Clergy  acted  a  different  part  on  the  late  occasion  we  should  have  ruined 
the  Church  Interest  here. 

I  am  with  great  truth,  Dear  Sir,  &c., 

WILLIAM  SMITH. 


1775-1  48o 

The  Clergy  to  the  Bishop  of  London. 

Philadelphia,  Octr  6,  1775. 
My  Lord, 

At  the  Annual  Meeting  of  our  Corporation  for  the  Relief  of  the  Widows 
and  Children  of  Clergymen  in  the  Communion  of  the  Church  of  England  in 
America  at  Philadelphia  after  the  usual  business  was  discussed  the  worthy 
Clergy  of  this  City  communicated  to  those  of  their  clerical  brethren  who 
were  present  an  address  lately  transmitted  from  them  to  your  Lordship  giving 
a  state  of  the  difficulties  under  which  the  Ministers  of  the  Church  of  England 
in  this  Country  labor  at  this  important  crisis,  informing  your  Lordship  of  the 
Military  associations  which  had  taken  place  among  all  denominations  through- 
out these  Colonies  and  that  in  such  a  situation  of  affairs  they  considered  it  as 
a  step  of  prudence  on  their  part  necessary  to  the  continuance  of  their  own 
usefulness  and  even  to  the  preservation  of  our  Church  in  America  to  comply 
with  the  recommendation  of  the  Congress  and  the  request  of  their  Parishion- 
ers in  observing  the  20th  of  July  last  as  a  day  of  general  humiliation,  Fasting 
and  Prayer  and  at  the  same  time  intimating  their  belief  that  the  Clergy  would 
in  general  do  the  same.  We  have,  as  our  Brethren  expected  we  should, 
thought  ourselves  called  upon  by  motives  of  prudence  as  we  were  by  the 
voices  of  our  respective  Congregations  to  observe  the  day  as  above  men- 
tioned and  we  desire  to  assure  your  Lordship  and  all  our  spiritual  Superiors 
that  on  this  occasion  we  did  scrupulously  conduct  ourselves  consistently  with 
our  Duty  as  Loyal  Subjects  and  Ministers  of  the  Church  of  England.  Our 
Distresses  are  Great,  our  anxiety  for  the  welfare  of  the  whole  British  Empire 
still  greater.  But  in  these  most  trying  times  we  hope  to  approve  ourselves 
the  hearty  and  steady  friends  of  the  Constitution  both  in  Church  and  State 
and  the  faithful  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  of  peace  and  Love.  But  at  the  same 
time  we  think  it  of  importance  to  the  interest  of  our  Country  at  large  to  have 
it  known,  that  even  were  it  proper  for  us  to  take  any  active  part  in  the  pres- 
ent troubles  it  would  not  be  of  any  considerable  weight  on  either  side  of  that 
fatal  dispute  we  so  heartily  wish  to  see  happily  accommodated. 

We  do  most  heartily  join  with  our  Brethren  in  the  Prayer  contained  in 
their  Letter  that  the  hearts  of  good  and  benevolent  men  in  both  Countries 


48 1  [1776. 

may  be  directed  to  pursue  such  truly  salutary  measures  as  may  produce  a 
speedy  and  permanent  reconciliation  between  the  Mother  Country  and  her 
Colonies  and  we  humbly  recommend  ourselves  to  your  Lordship's  paternal 
Prayers,  Advice,  and  protection. 

We  are  Your  Lordship's  Dutiful  Sons  and  Servants, 

Philip  Reading,  Alexr  Murray, 

Geo.  Craig,  Jonn  Odell, 

Thos  Barton,  Sam.  Magaw, 

Chas  Inglis,  Wm  Thompson, 

D.  Batwelle,  Geo.  Panton, 

Samuel  Tingley,  Wm  Frazer. 


M'\  READING  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Apoquiniminck,  March  18,  1776. 
Revd  worthy  Sir, 

I  had  the  honor  of  addressing  a  letter  to  you  in  September  last  containing 
(among  other  particulars  relative  to  my  Mission),  the  following  paragraph: 

I  should  now  proceed  in  my  account  of  some  other  difficulties  to  which  I 
have  been  particularly  liable  as  a  Missionary  here  if  every  thing  of  a  private 
nature  was  not  quite  absorbed  in  the  general  distress  with  which  we  are  all 
overwhelmed  by  the  unhappy  disputes  subsisting  betwixt  Great  Britain  and 
her  Colonies.  It  is  hardly  possible  especially  since  the  commencement  of  the 
late  hostilities  to  avoid  taking  a  part  on  one  side  or  other  of  the  dispute. 
Much  industry  has  been  used  to  render  me  obnoxious  to  popular  resentment 
as  being  inimical  to  the  measures  prosecuting  here  in  opposition  to  the  Parlia- 
mentary authority  of  the  present  state.  No  more  passive  obedience  and  non 
resistance  has  been  scribbled  with  a  pencil  on  my  Church  door.  It  was  urged 
as  a  just  cause  of  complaint  against  one  of  the  Captains  of  the  Militia  that 
he  had  lugged  his  company  to  Church  on  the  day  of  a  public  fast  to  hear  that 
old  wretch  (meaning  myself)  preach,  who  was  always  an  enemy  to  the  present 
measures.     Threats  have  been  used  to  deter  me  from  reading  the  prayers  for 


1776.]  482 

the  King  but  hitherto  I  have  stood  firm  and  my  answer  to  these  representa- 
tions is  that  having  taken  the  oaths  of  allegiance  to  his  present  Majesty,  hav- 
ing vowed  canonical  obedience  at  my  ordination  and  when  I  was  licensed  by 
the  Bishop,  &  subscribed  the  Liturgy  of  our  Church,  I  do  not  think  myself 
at  liberty  to  dispense  with  these  solemn  obligations  but  shall  persevere  by 
God's  Grace  in  complying  with  them.  As  to  my  own  immediate  Flock  I  have 
the  comfort  to  say  that  in  general  I  live  with  them  on  the  best  terms  and  it  is 
probably  owing  to  some  Gentlemen  of  influence  and  authority  among  them 
that  notwithstanding  the  danger  of  the  times  I  continue  on  a  respectable  and 
useful  footing  in  this  place. 

I  beg  leave  to  trouble  you  with  a  repetition  of  the  above  paragraph  be- 
cause the  letter  which  contained  it  was  seized  (among  a  number  of  others 
from  different  people),  on  board  a  ship  bound  to  London,  brought  back  to 
Philadelphia  and  submitted  to  a  Committee  of  inspection  as  being  of  danger- 
ous tendency  or  at  least  as  impeaching  the  propriety  of  the  public  proceed- 
ings. The  Committee,  I  am  informed,  after  consideration  thought  proper  to 
dismiss  the  letter  as  not  liable  to  the  censure  which  upon  the  first  perusal  it 
seemed  to  deserve. 

My  Honorable  Patrons  are  so  well  apprised  of  the  present  temper  of 
America  and  how  dangerous  it  is  become  to  speak  or  write  on  public  business 
that  I  shall  readily  be  excused  if  I  do  not  enlarge  on  so  tender  a  subject.  My 
letter  above  referred  to  having  passed  examination  induces  me  to  present  you 
with  a  repetition  of  it,  and  while  the  pen  is  in  my  hand  (tho'  my  arm  is  so 
weak  and  lame  that  I  am  scarcely  able  to  guide  it),  I  will  venture  to  add  that 
I  continue  stedfast  in  the  same  sentiments  determined  at  all  events  to  adhere 
thro'  Divine  assistance  to  my  oaths  of  allegiance,  ordination  vows,  subscrip- 
tion to  the  articles  and  liturgy  of  our  Church  and  those  principles  of  gratitude 
which  I  owe  the  Venerable  Society  under  whose  protection  I  have  exercised 
the  Ministry  and  by  whose  bounty  during  thirty  years  I  have  been  assisted 
with  a  comfortable  support. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  with  all  duty  and  respect, 

Reverend  worthy  Sir,  &c., 

PHILIP  READING. 


483  [i776. 

M\  READING  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

ApoquiniiMinck,  August  25,  1776. 
Reverend  worthy  Sir, 

In  my  letters  of  September  and  March  last  I  explained  the  difficulties  I 
was  brought  under  in  the  discharge  of  my  pastoral  Office  and  the  farther  ob- 
structions I  was  likely  to  meet  with  by  reason  of  the  unhappy  rupture  that 
has  taken  place  betwixt  Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies.  The  matter  is  now 
brought  to  a  crisis.  I  cannot  express  the  anguish  of  mind  I  feel  for  what  has 
lately  befallen  me  as  a  Missionary  and  for  the  abject  situation  with  which  my 
family  (as  yet  unprovided  for)  is  threatened.  But  the  God  whom  I  serve  will 
comfort  and  strengthen  me  in  bearing  up  under  the  one  and  I  trust  that  the 
Honorable  Society  will  continue  with  their  usual  benevolence  to  alleviate  the 
distresses  of  the  other. 

The  Church  of  England  has  now  no  longer  an  existence  in  the  United 
Colonies  of  America.  I  humbly  beg  that  this  assertion  may  not  be  considered 
as  the  effect  of  intemperate  heat  or  ungovernable  passion.  I  never  was  more 
cool  and  deliberate  than  when  I  make  it  and  therefore  will  venture  to  repeat 
it.  The  Church  of  England  as  by  law  established  has  no  longer  an  existence 
in  those  parts  of  America  which  are  denominated  "  The  free  and  independent 
States."  My  reason  for  speaking  in  this  manner  is  as  follows  :  I  look  upon  the 
King's  supremacy  and  the  constitution  of  the  Church  of  England  to  be  so  inti- 
mately blended  together  that  whenever  the  supremacy  is  either  suspended  or 
abrogated  the  fences  of  the  Church  are  then  broken  down  and  its  visibility  is 
destroyed.  This  is  actually  the  case  in  the  present  instance.  On  the  second 
day  of  July  the  Congress  at  Philadelphia  were  pleased  to  declare  the  Colonies 
which  had  united  in  opposition  to  the  measures  of  Great  Britain  "  Free  and 
independent  States."  Upon  this  Declaration  it  was  judged  incompatible  with 
the  present  policy  that  his  Majesty's  authority  within  the  new  States  should 
any  longer  be  recognized.  In  this  sentiment  the  generality  of  our  Clergy  (as 
far  as  has  hitherto  come  to  my  knowledge)  dismissed  all  those  prayers  from 
the  public  service  of  the  Church  wherein  the  names  of  the  King  and  the 


1776.]  4^4 

Royal  Family  are  mentioned,  and  adopted  in  their  stead  a  prayer  for  the  Con- 
gress which  is  no  other  if  I  am  rightly  informed  than  the  Prayer  for  the  high 
Court  of  Parliament  altered  and  suited  to  the  present  occasion.  "Most  gra- 
cious God"  say  they,  "we  humbly  beseech  thee  as  for  the  States  of  America 
in  general,  so  especially  for  the  high  Court  of  Delegates  in  Congress  at  this 
time  assembled,  &c,  &c." 

As  to  myself  I  was  at  no  loss  in  determining  what  part  I  should  bear  in 
this  importune  juncture.  Ever  since  I  entered  into  the  Ministry  I  had  made 
it  a  constant  rule  to  read  over  at  proper  intervals  my  ordination  vows,  the 
Articles  of  religion  and  Canons  of  our  Church ;  but  on  the  present  occasion 
I  read  them  more  attentively  than  ever.  The  more  I  considered  them  the 
more  I  was  confirmed  in  my  opinion  of  the  strict  obligation  I  was  under  to 
adhere  inviolably  to  what  they  injoined.  To  say  nothing  at  present  of  the 
oath  of  allegiance  which  was  evidently  framed  for  securing  the  subject  from 
joining  any  foreign  power  in  an  attack  upon  his  Sovereign's  Crown  and  dig- 
nity, the  Canons  of  the  Church  have  some  a  direct  and  others  a  general  ten- 
dency to  maintain  the  King's  supremacy  in  Church  and  State.  The  first,  sec- 
ond and  fifty-fifth,  besides  the  first  article  of  subscription  contained  in  the 
thirty- fourth,  are  unquestionably  calculated  for  this  very  purpose.  The  four- 
teenth leaves  the  Minister  who  officiates  no  room  to  alter  the  public  service 
at  his  own  discretion  or  to  leave  out  parts  of  it  to  serve  particular  purposes. 
The  ordination  vow  which  exacts  obedience  from  the  person  to  be  ordained  to 
his  Bishop  in  all  lawful  matters  has  in  view,  I  presume,  those  laws  which  have 
been  enacted  for  the  good  Government  of  the  Church  and  for  regulating  the 
conduct  of  Ministers  in  the  ministrations  in  it.  I  can  discover  no  one  excep- 
tion to  answer  special  emergencies  or  to  obviate  difficulties  that  may  arise  on 
unforeseen  occasions.  Under  these  persuasions  I  could  not  consistently  with 
my  sense  of  the  obligation,  assume  the  danger  even  of  reprehension  from 
my  superiors  by  deliberately  and  of  purpose  altering  the  Liturgy  of  the 
Church,  much  less  would  I  subject  myself  and  the  people  under  my  pastoral 
care  to  the  severer  censure  of  excommunication  by  disobeying  the  second 
Canon  and  contravening  the  points  contained  in  it.  For  this  it  is  which  makes 
me  say  as  I  do  in  the  beginning  of  this  letter  that  the  Church  of  England  has 
no  longer  a  visible  existence  in  this  part  of  the  world ;  because  I  look  upon 
every  person  whether  Clergyman  or  layman  by  impugning  the  King's  Su- 
premacy to  be  virtually  excommunicated,  separated  or  cut  off  from  the  com- 


485  [1776. 

munion  of  that  Church,  as  it  stands  upon  its  legal  basis  tho'  the  sentence  has 
not  been  actually  pronounced  against  him.  For  the  Ecclesiastical  censures 
could  neither  be  pronounced  here  nor  the  penalties  annexed  operate  to  any 
immediate  purpose  against  those  who  had  incurred  them,  yet  this  assertion 
that  the  Church  of  England  has  no  visible  existence  among  us  speaks  for  and 
proves  itself.  Take  away  the  distinguishing  characteristic  of  any  constitution 
and  that  constitution  instantly  undergoes  so  material  a  change  as  not  to  be 
known  by  its  former  title  of  distinction.  Take  away  the  King's  Supremacy 
and  the  Episcopal  jurisdiction  of  our  Church  (for  they  are  the  specific  differ- 
ential marks  of  our  Ecclesiastical  policy),  and  the  Church  is  no  longer  differ- 
enced by  its  former  name  as  it  can  no  longer  with  propriety  lay  claim  to  its 
distineuishinor  title  of  the  Church  of  England. 

Such  being  my  sentiments  on  this  subject  I  determined  for  the  sake  of 
keeping  up  the  Church  in  its  full  visibility  agreeably  to  my  obligations  to  con- 
tinue reading  the  public  service  entire  as  usual  notwithstanding  Independence 
had  been  declared  by  the  Congress  and  for  one  or  two  Sundays  prosecuted 
my  purpose  without  interruption.  But  on  the  twenty-first  day  of  July  imme- 
diately after  the  first  lesson  our  senior  Churchwarden  (out  of  pure  kindness 
to  and  friendship  for  me),  coming  up  to  the  reading  Desk  earnestly  advised 
me  to  omit  the  prayers  for  the  King  and  Royal  Family  as  the  temper  of  the 
prevailing  party  was  such  that  they  would  no  longer  bear  the  reading  if  those 
prayers  should  be  continued.  I  told  him  that  the  present  was  not  a  fit  season 
nor  the  place  a  proper  one  for  discussing  so  interesting  a  subject:  that  I 
should  for  that  day  at  least  proceed  with  the  service  as  usual ;  because  when- 
ever I  was  compelled  to  desist  from  using  the  prayers  for  the  King  and  the 
Royal  Family  I  should  desist  likewise  from  using  any  other  part  of  the  public 
service  and  that  consequently  the  Church  would  be  shut  up. 

Being  now  assured  on  all  hands  of  the  danger  with  which  I  was  threatened 
if  I  persisted  in  complying  with  my  oaths,  vows  and  subscriptions  I  thought  it 
high  time  to  consult  my  own  and  my  family's  safety  and  therefore  on  the  Sun- 
day following  (July  28th),  when  the  people  were  assembled  for  public  worship 
before  I  began  the  service  I  explained  to  them  the  obligations  the  Clergy  of 
the  Church  of  England  are  under  to  assert  the  King's  Supremacy  in  their 
public  ministrations  and  acquainted  them  that  as  I  could  not  read  the  Liturgy 
agreeably  to  the  prescribed  form  without  offending  against  our  Government 
and  incurring  the  resentment  of  the  people  I  should  on  that  day  declare  the 


1776.]  486 

Church  shut  up  for  six  weeks.  Accordingly  after  Nicene  Creed  I  declared  in 
form  that  as  I  had  no  design  to  resist  the  authority  of  the  New  Government 
on  one  hand  and  as  I  was  determined  on  the  other  not  to  incur  the  heavy  guilt 
of  perjury  by  a  breach  of  the  most  solemn  promises  I  should  decline  attend- 
ing on  the  public  worship  for  a  short  time  from  that  day  but  that  for  the  ben- 
efit of  those  who  were  in  full  and  close  communion  with  me,  for  comforting 
them  in  the  present  distress,  for  strengthening  them  in  the  faith,  for  encour- 
aging them  to  persevere  in  their  profession  unto  the  end  I  would  administer 
the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  on  (Septr  8)  that  day  six  weeks.  I  pro- 
posed to  say  more  on  the  subject;  but  the  scene  became  too  affecting  for  me 
to  bear  a  farther  part  in  it.  Many  of  the  people  present  were  overwhelmed 
with  deep  distress  and  the  cheeks  of  some  began  to  be  bathed  with  tears. 
My  own  tongue  faultered  and  my  firmness  forsook  me ;  beckoning  therefore 
to  the  Clerk  to  sing  the  Psalm,  I  went  up  into  the  pulpit  and  having  exhorted 
the  Members  of  the  Church  to  hold  fast  the  profession  of  their  faith  without 
wavering  and  to  depend  upon  the  promises  of  a  faithful  God  for  their  present 
comfort  and  future  relief  I  finished  this  irksome  business,  and  Apoquiniminck 
Church  from  that  day  has  continued  shut  up. 

If  I  have  erred  in  not  complying  with  the  prevailing  mode  of  the  times  or 
if  my  conduct  has  been  totally  different  from  that  of  all  my  Brethren  in  this 
Neighborhood,  one  Clergyman  only  excepted,  I  have  however  maintained  to 
myself  a  conscience  void  of  offence.  The  opinions  of  the  best  writers  on  the 
reciprocalities  of  those  in  authority  and  those  under  authority  such  as  Grotius, 
Puffendorf  and  others  together  with  Dr.  Sanderson  {de  juramenti  obligatione), 
are  I  think  all  in  my  favor.  The  decisions  of  Archbishop  Sharp  (reckoned 
the  best  Canonist  of  his  time),  in  his  cases  of  conscience,  preponderate  I  know 
with  me  in  the  same  scale  of  the  balance,  but  why  do  I  mention  this  as  a 
doubtful  case?  I  assure  myself  that  I  have  on  my  side  the  approbation  and 
suffrage  of  many  good  and  virtuous  men  of  the  present  age  particularly  of 
my  honorable  Patrons,  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  and 
having  it  in  my  power  to  appeal  to  a  just  God  for  the  probity  of  my  inten- 
tions and  to  the  sense  of  the  wisest  and  most  respectable  part  of  mankind  for 
the  consistency  of  my  conduct,  what  room  have  I  for  doubtful  apprehensions  ? 
I  trust  that  in  this  and  other  conspicuous  instances  of  my  demeanor  I  shall 
upon  examination  be  found  to  have  borne  not  an  unworthy  part  among  the 
people  committed  to  my  pastoral  charge. 


4«7  [i776. 

My  sphere  of  action  is  now  confined  to  the  Catechetical,  and  what  is 
strictly  termed  the  parochial,  offices  of  my  Mission.  I  shall  relax  in  no  dili- 
gence nor  remit  of  any  care  in  discharging  these  for  the  sake  of  keeping  my 
people  stedfast  until  some  resolve  of  the  New  Legislature  or  the  interposition 
of  other  events  shall  enable  me  to  resume  the  public  exercise  of  my  Ministry 
in  the  Church.  In  the  mean  season  I  submit  myself  to  the  Honble  Society's 
disposal  humbly  emploring  their  advice  and  direction  in  my  present  arduous 
circumstances. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Revd  worthy  Sir, 

PHILIP  READING. 


M\  JOHNSTON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

York  Town,  Novr  25th,  1776. 
Revd  Sir, 

*  The  small  congregation  belonging  to  the  Church  in  this 

Town  by  three  several  subscriptions  of  their  own,  by  a  lottery  and  also  by 
subscriptions  raised  in  Philadelphia  &  other  places  had  finished  one  of  the 
most  elegant  Little  Churches  in  this  or  perhaps  any  other  Province  in  Amer- 
ica. The  Ladies'  subscription  for  Crimson  Damask  hangings  which  they  made 
up  themselves  did  them  honor  while  it  was  no  small  addition  to  the  ornaments 
of  the  Church.  Every  thing  seemed  to  promise  fair  not  only  that  the  few 
debts  remaining  would  be  discharged,  but  that  in  time  a  house  &  lot  of  ground 
would  be  purchased  for  the  residence  of  the  Minister. 

When  the  Revd  Mr.  Batwell  was  sent  here  Protestants  of  all  denominations 
seemed  very  much  pleased  with  him.  The  Dissenters  took  seats  in  the  Church 
&  afforded  the  pleasing  prospect  that  at  least  their  children  would  at  a  future 
day  be  no  small  addition  to  our  Congregation.  On  our  sides  we  made  no 
distinction  between  them  and  ourselves  except  only  in  the  Church  Officers  & 
management  of  the  Church  which  was  always  confined  to  the  Church  people 
only. 


I776-]  488 

In  this  situation  things  were  when  the  present  unnatural  dispute  had  been 
raised  to  a  considerable  height.  The  Party  which  had  taken  up  Arms  &  who 
were  not  belonging  to  the  Church  were  very  noisy  about  the  prayers  for  his 
Majesty.  Mr.  Batwell  persevered  in  going  through  the  service  as  usual  and 
the  Church  people  supported  him  in  it  to  the  very  great  danger  of  all  until 
last  April  when  the  violence  of  the  times  carried  everything  before  them  and 
since  that  time  we  have  had  no  Church  Service  here. 

This  hath  been  nearly  the  case  with  the  Church  People  &  Mr.  Batwell  at 
Carlisle  whereby  the  Church  was  shut  up  there  about  the  same  time.  In  Hunt- 
ington the  Church  Service  was  performed  until  near  the  time  when  Independ- 
ence was  declared  since  which  no  Church  Service  hath  been  performed  in  this 
Province  except  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia  where  some  part  of  the  service 
which  relates  to  His  Majesty  is  omitted. 

Mr.  Batwell  has  suffered  severely  by  the  violence  of  Partys.  On  the  first 
attempt  to  associate  here  he  as  far  as  was  consistant  with  his  safety  endeav- 
ored to  promote  peace  &  when  the  first  attempts  were  made  to  prepare  the 
People  for  and  prejudice  his  mind  in  favor  of  a  change  of  Government  he 
did  his  utmost  to  oppose  it.  This  drew  down  the  resentment  of  such  as  were 
warm  for  the  measure  so  that  he  was  advised  not  to  come  to  this  Town  for 
fear  of  being  ill  treated,  but  last  September  when  I  was  in  Maryland  and  all 
his  friends  were  absent,  he  came  here  in  company  with  the  Revd  Mr.  Adams 
(the  late  Missionary),  to  supply  his  family  with  some  necessaries  and  as  he 
was  going  to  return  a  number  of  the  people  here,  all  Germans,  seized  his 
horse  by  the  bridle  and  insisted  it  was  stole.  The  man  he  bought  the  horse 
from  happened  to  be  in  sight  and  immediately  went  up  and  informed  them  it 
was  bought  from  him.  They  then  pretended  they  would  shew  him  the  right 
owner  and  lead  him  to  the  water  which  runs  through  this  Town  where  with 
more  than  savage  cruelty  they  soused  him  in  the  water  several  times.  They 
then  made  him  ride  out  of  Town  in  that  condition  above  1 1  miles  before  he 
got  dry  Cloathes.  Happily  for  him  &  his  family  he  did  not  get  cold  by  this 
piece  of  barbarity.  This  affair  hath  made  a  great  noise  here  and  the  better 
sort  of  people  greatly  disapprove  of  it.  But  as  the  courts  of  Justice  are  all 
shut  we  are  obliged  to  wait  with  Patience  until  things  are  restored  to  order 
again  when  the  guilty  persons  concerned  in  this  outrage  will  not  go  unpun- 
ished. What  Mr.  Batwell  had  done  those  wicked  people  could  not  say  them- 
selves but  it  was  because  he  was  a  Tory  as  they  thought  proper  to  call  him, 


489  [1776. 

as  almost  all  the  Church  people  in  this  County  are,  and  every  other  person 
who  is  against  the  most  violent  measures  is  sure  of  the  same  Epithet. 

Mr.  Batwell's  chief  dependence  is  now  on  the  bounty  of  the  Society.  He 
never  got  much  from  Carlisle  &  I  think  if  the  present  dreadful  times  last 
there  will  be  no  certain  support  for  him  here  but  his  Glebe  which  he  has  done 
his  best  to  improve.  While  I  remain  here  I  shall  do  all  in  my  power  to  sup- 
port the  Church;  but  unless  things  are  restored  to  their  former  order  the 
places  which  I  hold  under  Government  will  soon  be  in  other  hands  ;  as  I  am 
determined  not  to  accept  of  any  place  of  profit  or  trust  from  the  persons  who 
direct  the  present  public  affairs  at  this  time  and  therefore  must  return  to  my 
Practice  at  the  Bar.  But  let  my  lot  be  cast  where  it  will  the  prosperity  of  the 
Church  will  be  one  of  my  most  ardent  wishes. 

I  am,  Sir,  &c, 

SAML  JOHNSTON. 


M\  BARTON  to  the  Secretary. 


(EXTRACT.) 

Lancaster  in  Pennsylvania,  Nov.  25,  1776. 
Revd  Sir, 

Amidst  the  dreadful  conflict  which  has  rent  this  once  happy  country  to 
pieces  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  indulge  my  inclination  in  keeping  up  a 
regular  correspondence  with  the  Society.  All  intercourse  between  England 
&  this  Colony,  for  above  a  twelvemonth  has  been  entirely  cut  off;  so  that 
there  was  no  channel  thro'  which  a  letter  could  pass  except  by  going  almost 
an  Anson's  voyage  &  being  subject  to  be  opened,  scrutinized  and  perhaps 
returned  back  for  the  censures  of  the  Congress.  I  must  commit  even  this  to 
the  hands  of  Fortune  having  no  better  conveyance  than  by  way  of  New  York 
where  I  shall  send  it  by  one  of  the  British  officers  who  have  long  been  con- 
fined in  this  place  as  Prisoners  of  War  &  are  now  released  upon  the  demand 
of  General  Howe. 

As  I  would  not  trespass  upon  your  Patience  nor  distress  your  humanity  I 


1776.]  49Q 

shall  avoid  entering  into  a  detail  of  politics.  I  only  beg  leave  to  hint  that  the 
calamities  of  America,  brought  on  by  a  few  ambitious  &  designing  men  here 
and  which  might  have  been  prevented  if  Lord  Howe's  conciliatory  proposi- 
tions had  been  accepted,  are  great  beyond  description  and  that  it  has  been  my 
misfortune  among  many  others  to  share  in  them. 

I  have  been  obliged  to  shut  my  Churches  to  avoid  the  fury  of  the  populace 
who  would  not  suffer  the  Liturgy  to  be  used  unless  the  Collects  &  Prayers  for 
the  King  &  Royal  Family  were  omitted,  which  neither  by  conscience  nor  the 
Declaration  I  made  &  subscribed  when  ordained  would  allow  me  to  comply 
with  ;  and  altho'  I  used  every  prudent  step  to  give  no  offence  even  to  those 
who  usurped  authority  &  Rule  &  exercised  the  severest  Tyranny  over  us,  yet 
my  life  and  property  have  been  threatened  upon  mere  suspicion  of  being 
unfriendly  to  what  is  called  the  American  cause.  Indeed  every  Clergyman  of 
the  Church  of  England  who  dared  to  act  upon  proper  principles  was  marked 
out  for  infamy  and  insult;  in  consequence  of  which  the  Missionaries  in  par- 
ticular have  suffered  greatly.  Some  of  them  have  been  dragged  from  their 
horses,  assaulted  with  stones  &  dirt,  ducked  in  water ;  obliged  to  flie  for  their 
lives,  driven  from  their  habitations  &  families,  laid  under  arrests  &  impris- 
oned !  I  believe  they  were  all  (or  at  least  most  of  them),  reduced  to  the  same 
necessity  with  me  of  shutting  up  their  Churches.  It  is  however  a  great  pleas- 
ure to  me  to  assure  the  Venerable  Society  that  tho'  I  have  been  deprived  of 
the  satisfaction  of  discharging  my  public  duties  to  my  Congregations,  I  have 
endeavored  (I  trust  not  unsuccessfully),  to  be  beneficial  to  them  in  another 
way.  I  have  visited  them  from  house  to  house,  regularly  instructed  their  fam- 
ilies, baptized  &  catechized  their  children  ;  attended  their  sick  and  performed 
such  other  duties  in  private  as  aton'd  for  my  suspension  from  public  preaching. 
I  think  it  my  duty  to  inform  the  Society  that  these  are  the  principles  I  acted 
upon.  If  I  have  acted  wrong  (in  not  using  the  Liturgy  in  that  maimed  & 
mangled  state,  in  which  it  is  said  some  of  my  reverend  brethren  used  it,  rather 
than  shut  up  my  Church  pro  Tempore),  I  hope  the  Society  will  attribute  my 
faults  to  the  strictness  of  my  attachment  to  what  I  thought  my  duty  and  so 
forgive  me.  I  should  have  been  very  happy  to  have  had  their  advice  and 
direction  on  so  critical  occasion.  But  that  was  impossible  to  be  obtained.  I 
now  believe  the  day  is  near  at  hand  when  the  Churches  will  be  open  &  I  shall 
again  enter  on  my  public  duties.  I  shall  then  do  myself  the  favor  to  be  more 
particular  in  my  address  to  the  Venerable  Society.     At  present  therefore  I 


49i  [1778. 

shall  only  add  that  tho'  I  have  nothing  to  subsist  on  but  the  gratuitous  offer- 
ings of  my  Congregations  who  have  been  very  kind  to  me.  I  have  not  been 
able  to  draw  for  my  Salary  nor  can  I  do  it  now  as  the  money  struck  by  Con- 
gress (which  is  the  only  money  current  among  us),  is  so  depreciated  that  I 
should  run  a  risque  in  receiving  it. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  with  particular  respect, 

Revd  Sir,  &c., 

THOs  BARTON. 


Case  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Missionaries  of  Pennsylvania. 


Lancaster,  May  20,  1778. 
Addressed  to  the  consideration  of  the  Honorable  Assembly  of  said  State 

now  met  in  Lancaster: 

The  Missionaries  were  appointed  and  sent  to  America  by  a  Society  in 
England  composed  of  the  first  Personages  in  the  Kingdom  who  were  erected 
and  settled  into  a  corporation  by  Charter  granted  in  the  year  1701  by  the 
great  deliverer,  King  William  III. 

This  Society  having  the  management  and  disposal  of  large  sums  of  money 
collected  in  England  towards  the  maintenance  of  a  learned  &  orthodox  clergy 
and  the  making  such  other  provision  as  might  be  necessary  for  the  propoga- 
tion  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  "have  for  upwards  of  70  years  expended 
near  ^5,000  per  annum  in  America.  They  became  the  Patrons  of  their  Mis- 
sionaries and  have  enabled  them  to  preach  the  Gospel  in  some  places  "  wholly 
unprovided  of  maintenance  for  Ministers  and  public  worship  of  God. 

The  Missionaries  by  the  nature  of  their  appointment  are  mostly  itinerant; 
being  neither  limited  or  fixed  to  any  particular  station  they  are  often  called 
by  the  duties  of  their  office  not  only  into  different  Counties  but  into  different 
States. 

Upon  being  sent  abroad  they  receive  from  the  Society  these  Instructions, 
viz.:  "To  recommend  brotherly  love  and  Christian  charity  particularly 
among  all  Protestant  Inhabitants  of  the  District  or  Colony  where  they  exer- 
cise their  Ministerial  Functions ;  To  inculcate  submission  to  government  and 
obedience  to  authority  not  only  for  wrath  but  also  for  conscience  sake ;  To 


1778.]  492 

exhort  their  people  faithfully  and  chearfully  to  pay  tribute  to  whom  tribute  is 
due  and  to  take  special  care  to  give  no  offence  to  the  civil  Government  by 
intermeddling:  in  affairs  not  relating-  to  their  own  callings  or  function." 

o  o  o 

In  conformity  to  these  Instructions  the  Missionaries  included  in  this  case 
(for  they  are  not  authorized  nor  will  they  presume  to  speak  of  any  others), 
beg  leave  to  declare  with  an  appeal  to  heaven*  and  their  consciences  for  the 
truth  of  the  Declaration  that  they  have  not  intermeddled  directly  or  indirectly 
in  the  present  melancholy  contest  nor  done  any  act  or  thing  inimical  to  the 
liberty  or  welfare  of  America. 

Bound  by  every  tie  of  duty  to  their  Ecclesiastical  superiors  at  home,  affec- 
tionately attached  to  the  interest  and  prosperity  of  this  country  and  exempted 
by  their  office  from  taking  any  active  part  on  either  side,  they  have  considered 
themselves  under  moral  obligations  and  have  made  it  their  study  to  give  no 
offence  to  either  of  the  contending  parties. 

The  Missionaries,  having  never  derived  any  advantages  from  American 
establishments  or  settled  Revenues,  are  generally  in  humble  circumstances, 
and  being  now,  from  the  nature  of  the  present  controversy  suspended  from 
the  full  exercise  of  their  Ministerial  Functions  here;  and  from  even  the  privi- 
lege of  visiting  such  of  their  Congregations  as  reside  in  different  counties, 
forbid,  by  the  principles  of  their  Profession  and  the  canons  of  the  Church  to 
which  they  belong  from  accepting  or  following  any  calling  or  official,  Civil, 
Military  or  Commercial,  they  must  be  reduced  to  disabilities  of  procuring  the 
common  necessaries  of  life  for  themselves  &  families  were  the  Society's 
bounty  to  be  withdrawn. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  say  more  upon  this  subject.     The  wisdom  of  the  Hon 
orable  Assembly  will  more  fully  point  out  the  peculiar  hardships  of  the  Mis- 
sionaries in  particular  should  they  under  the  above  circumstances  suffer  the 
penalties  of  an  act  entituled  "An  Act  for  the  further  security  of  the  Govern- 
ment." 

Having  the  happiness  of  addressing  themselves  to  Christians  &  Protestants 
who  will  pay  due  regard  to  religious  scrtiples  however  different  they  may  be 
from  their  own,  the  Missionaries  hope  that  they  will  be  permitted  candedly  to 
avow  they  cannot  in  conscience  abjure  the  "King  of  Great  Britain  his  heirs 
and  Successors,"  nor  totally  dissolve  their  connections  with  the  Countries  that 
gave  them  birth,  from  which  they  have  hitherto  drawn  their  chief  support  and 
to  which  alone  they  must  look  up  for  their  future  maintenance. 


493  [i778. 

The  Missionaries  therefore  flatter  themselves  while  their  public  and  pri- 
vate conduct  shall  entitle  or  recommend  them  to  the  favor  of  America,  they 
may  be  allowed  the  same  indulgence  which  Missionaries  both  Protestants  and 
Papists  of  almost  all  Christian  nations  have  experienced. 

The  Protestant  Missionaries  from  Denmark  to  Tranquebar  in  the  East 
Indies  receive  favor  and  protection  from  the  natives,  tho'  not  Professors  of  the 
Religion  of  Christ.  The  Sweedish  and  Moravian  Missionaries  sent  to  Amer- 
ica  were  permitted  not  only  to  exercise  their  functions  but  even  to  purchase 
lands,  &c,  for  the  support  and  endowment  of  their  Missions  without  being 
constrained  to  swear  allegiance  to  the  Government  then  in  being. 

The  Popish  Missionaries  have  ever  enjoyed  the  same  privileges  in  all  the 
different  countries  they  have  visited.  The  great  Mogul  has  allowed  them 
protection  and  liberty  of  conscience  in  all  his  vast  dominions.  Throughout 
Asia  and  Africa,  the  Philipine  Islands  and  the  Isles  called  the  Ladrones  in 
the  South  seas  they  are  suffered  to  exercise  all  the  duties  of  their  Functions 
without  binding  themselves  to  any  of  those  countries  by  the  sanction  of  oaths 
&  Tests. 

These  things  are  not  mentioned  with  any  design  of  dictating  or  pointing 
out  Rules  of  Conduct  for  the  Honble  Assembly;  but  only  to  mark  the  policy 
(at  least)  which  all  nations  have  used  in  encouraging  and  protecting  men  set 
apart  for  the  purposes  of  Religion  &  morality. 

The  Protestant  Episcopal  Missionaries  therefore  of  Pennsylvania  have 
reason  to  expect  they  will  not  be  viewed  in  a  less  favorable  light;  and  there- 
fore pray  that  the  Honorable  Assembly  will  consider  their  present  distressed 
situation  and  relieve  them  in  such  manner  as  their  own  wisdom  and  humanity 
shall  dictate.  And  it  shall  be  the  prayer  of  the  Missionaries  that  the  "  Peace 
of  God  which  passeth  all  understanding  may  keep  their  hearts  and  minds  in 
the  knowledge  and  love  of  God  and  of  His  Son  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  and 
that  the  blessing  of  God  Almighty,  the  Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost 
may  be  amongst  them  and  remain  with  them  always." 

Signed  in  behalf  of  himself  and  the  rest  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Missionaries  of  Pennsylvania, 

THOs  BARTON, 

Missionary  at  Lancaster. 


1778.]  494 

M\   READING  to  the   Secretary, 


Apoquiniminck,  Septr  the  30th,  1778. 
Revd  worthy  Sir, 

Almost  two  years  have  now  elapsed  since  I  had  the  honor  of  transmitting 
to  you  a  full,  circumstantial  &  faithful  account  of  the  Churches  of  this  Mission 
having  been  shut  up  &  the  exercise  of  the  public  worship  suspended  in  pur- 
suance of  Independence  having  been  declared  by  the  Congress  at  Philadelphia 
&  such  resolutions  formed  by  the  new  Government  as  absolutely  forbade  any 
farther  acknowledgment  of  the  King  of  Great  Britain's  supremacy  within 
(what  are  now  stiled),  the  United  States.  I  hope  &  trust  that  my  conduct  in 
this  critical  turn  of  affairs  &  the  principles  upon  which  I  proceeded  have  met 
with  the  approbation  of  my  honorable  Patrons  the  members  of  the  Society  for 
the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  &  are  judged  by  them  conformable  to  the  con- 
stitution of  our  excellent  Church.  I  have  nothing  farther  to  offer  at  present 
but  that  as  the  maintenance  of  Independence  still  continues  tenaciously 
adhered  to,  &  such  laws  are  multiplying  among  us  as  militate  against  the 
discipline  of  the  Church  of  England  I  persevere  with  firmness  &  resolution 
in  pursuing  the  same  line  of  conduct,  having  never  in  any  single  instance 
deviated  from  my  duty  in  this  respect  but  sturdily  adhering  to  &  not  in  the 
least  violating  the  oaths,  vows  &  obligations  I  entered  into  when  I  took  upon 
me  the  Ministerial  office. 

As  I  have  been  thus  cautious  in  my  behavior  &  uniform  in  the  character 
of  an  upright  son  of  the  Church  and  a  dutiful  Missionary  I  flatter  myself  that 
I  am  as  yet  entitled  to  the  favor  and  protection  of  the  Honorable  &  Venerable 
Society  in  whose  service  (I  hope  I  may  say)  I  am  still  engaged,  and  whose 
munificence  I  have  experienced  during  thirty  years  past.  I  have  therefore 
drawn  a  Bill  of  Exchange  bearing  date  with  this  letter  on  Mr.  Symondson  the 
Treasurer  for  one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds  sterling,  being  the  salary  due 
to  me  at  the  present  date,  and  which  I  hope  will  be  favored  with  the  usual 
kind  and  ready  acceptance.  I  must  confess  that  this  draught  ought  to  have 
been  presented  at  the  expiration  of  the  year  in  the  last  autumn  and  would 
willingly  have  gone  within  Sir  William  Howe's  Lines  to  have  done  it,  where 
alone  such  a  business  could  be  negociated,  but  as  no  man's  conduct  could  be 


495  [i778. 

more  strictly  attended  to  or  narrowly  watched  by  some  favorers  of  Indepen- 
dence than  mine  was  at  that  juncture  I  could  not  reconcile  myself  to  the  meas- 
ure, for  had  I  adopted  it  in  all  likelihood  it  would  have  been  urged  as  a  reason 
for  preventing  my  return  to  my  house  and  family  which  has  been  actually  the 
case  with  several  who  have  ventured  to  take  to  such  a  step.  I  therefore  chose 
as  the  most  eligible  alternative,  to  throw  myself  upon  the  candour  and  clem- 
ency of  the  Society  rather  than  run  the  risque  of  being  compelled  to  submit 
to  the  fatigues  of  a  camp;  a  task  to  which  my  advanced  time  of  life  and 
encreasing  infirmities  have  rendered  me  quite  unequal. 

Labouring  under  a  nervous  atrophy  which  has  been  brought  upon  me  by 
the  anxiety,  disappointment  and  distress  I  have  suffered  during  the  present 
contest  betwixt  America  and  the  Parent  State,  I  am  obliged  to  ask  the  assist- 
ance of  an  amanuensis  in  writing  this  Letter,  being  incapable  of  using  my 
pen  for  any  considerable  time  together;  as  therefore  this  is  the  last  applica- 
tion I  shall  probably  make  and  the  last  letter  I  shall  have  it  in  my  power  to 
send  to  you  as  I  remain  true  to  my  first  principles  and  continue  firm  upon  my 
post,  performing  for  the  Members  of  our  Church  in  this  place  every  pastoral 
duty  in  my  power.  As  my  own  and  my  family's  wants  are  becoming  most 
pressing  &  I  have  no  other  resource  upon  earth  left  to  fly  to  in  my  present 
exigence,  may  I  not  assure  myself  that  I  am  still  entitled  to  a  continuance  of 
my  usual  support  from  those  hands  which  have  been  so  long  and  so  benevo- 
lently held  out  for  my  relief? 

I  am  with  all  duty  and  respect  to  the  Honorable  and  Venerable  Society, 

Revd  worthy  Sir,  &c, 

PHILIP  READING. 


NOTES  AND  ADDITIONAL  DOCUMENTS. 


pp.  i-4. 

The  dissensions  between  the  "Quakers  and  Churchmen,"  "upper  counties  and  lower,"  * 
date  almost  from  the  beginning  of  the  settlement  of  the  Province.  The  "  Brief  Narrative," 
though  anonymous,  is  evidently  the  composition  of  Col.  Robert  Quarry,  the  Judge  of  the 
Court  of  Vice-Admiralty,  whose  opposition  to  the  Proprietary  is  referred  to  again  and  again  by 
the  celebrated  James  Logan  in  his  letters  of  this  time,  and  is  to  be  found  detailed  in  the 
various  "Memorials,"  "Complaints,"  "Informations,"  and  "Answers,"  of  both  parties  pre- 
served among  the  Logan  Papers. "j"  From  the  references  to  occurrences  at  the  time  of  the 
Proprietary's  visit  to  Pennsylvania,  the  date  of  the  "Narrative"  would  appear  to  be  about  the 
close  of  the  year  1700.  As  illustrating  the  temper  of  the  Churchmen  in  the  Province  at  this 
early  period,  it  may  well  preface  the  papers  which  follow  in  chronological  order.  A  contem- 
poraneous letter  from  William  Penn,  printed  in  the  Pennsylvania  Archives,  I.  pp.  141,  142,  gives 
the  Proprietary's  account  of  some  particulars  in  this  struggle.  We  quote  the  following  perti- 
nent passages : 

"Give  R.  West  a  guinea  now  &  then,  I  fear  him  in  ye  surrender  of  the  Jerseys,  he  has 
always  profest  friendship,  putt  him  in  mind  of  it ;  he  advised  me  to  stay  &  settle  matters,  but 
Col'  Quarry,  &c,  w,h  their  artful  Letters,  helped  by  the  Bp.  of  London  &  Gr.  Nicholson,  would 
not  suffer  it — Church  is  their  Cry,  and  to  disturb  us  their  Merit,  whose  labours  have  made  the 
place  ;  they  misrepresent  all  we  doe,  &  would  make  us  dissenters  in  our  own  Countrey ;  the  Bp.  of 
London  at  ye  passing  my  Pat'  did  what  he  could  to  gett  savings  for  ye  Ch.  but  was  opposed  by  ye 
E.  of  Radnor,  yn  Presd'.  Am  civil  &  equal  to  ym  all,  putt  them  in  all  places  of  profit,  save  one, 
in  this  County,  Admty  Advoes,  Att.  Gen1,  3  of  ye  Oyr,  5  Counties  all  theirs,  but  this  is  not 
enough,  they  must  have  all ;  and  what  they  do  not  attempt  in  State  they  do  boldly  in  ye  pulpit ; 
depending  on  my  principle  for  Impunity,  ye  p'sent  Minister  brought  over  printed  books  & 
broad  sheets  in  great  quantities  to  be  pasted  up  in  their  Houses,  is  this  Submission  to  Govm'  ? 
This  p'sent  man,  of  himself  pretty  quiet,  therefore  what  he  does  is  concerted  at  home ;  we  are 
much  Superior  to  them  in  Number  &  Estates ;  2  to  1  in  number,  4  to  1  in  estates,  20  to  1  first 
Adventurers.     G.  K's  J  Hypocrisy  first  open'd  ye  way  for  this  violent  spirit.     This  is  our  case, 

*  Vide  Penn  and  Logan  Correspondence  (Penna.  Hist.  Soc.  Memoirs,  vol.  ix.),  pp.  22,  65. 
\  Ibid,  pp.  17,  18,  24-39,  66,  71,  72,  84,  85,  86,  no,  ill,  112,  113,  114,  124,  et  step:.      %  George  Keith. 
63 


498 

pray  use  all  endeavours  to  gain  upon  y°  Bish1'  if  he  remember  not  an  encounter  before  y°  K.  in 
'77.  Sr  R.  Southw1,  Ld  Bradford,  &  yc  Duke  of  Leeds  being  p'sent,  an  allay  sure  may  be 
found." 

The  Bishop  of  London  referred  to  was  Dr.  Henry  Compton,  whose  tolerant  views  and 
spirit  of  moderation  {vide  Rose's  Biographical  Dictionary,  vi.  p.  431)  made  him  unpopular  with 
his  clergy,  and  probably  hindered  his  advancement  to  the  See  of  Canterbury.  A  little  later, 
Mr.  Penn  (vide  Penn  and  Logan  Correspondence,  p.  117),  appears  to  have  found  his  lordship 
less  hostile.  Even  while  making  every  allowance  for  the  vexation  of  the  founder  of  Pennsylvania 
and  his  bitter  disappointment  in  seeing  the  growth  of  the  Church  in  his  "beloved  Philadelphia," 
it  is  hard  to  justify  his  language  respecting  men  whose  chief  fault  was  a  zeal  for  their  faith. 
His  only  excuse  must  be  that  it  was  made  use  of  in  the  freedom  of  a  private  correspondence 
penned  without  the  slightest  thought  of  the  possibility  of  its  appearance  to  the  world  a  century 
and  a  half  later. 

P-   5- 

The  history  of  this  requirement  will  be  found  in  the  following  Extracts  from  the  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  Lords  of  the  Committee  of  the  Privy  Council  for  the  Affairs  of  Trade  and  the 
Plantations,  at  Whitehall,  January  22,  1 680-1  :  "Upon  reading  the  draught  of  a  Patent  for 
Mr.  Penn,  constituting  him  absolute  proprietary  of  a  tract  of  land,"  &c,  which  was  referred  to 
Lord  Chief  Justice  North, — "A  paper  being  also  read,  wherein  my  Lord  Bishop  of  London 
desires  that  Mr.  Penn  be  obliged,  by  his  Patent,  to  admit  a  Chaplain,  of  his  Lordship's 
Appointment,  upon  the  request  of  any  number  of  planters ;  the  same  is  also  referred  to  my 
Lord  Chief  Justice  North."  On  the  24th  of  February  of  the  same  year,  "the  Lord  Bishop  of 
London  is  desired  to  prepare  a  draught  of  a  law  to  be  passed  in  this  country,  for  the  settling  of 
the  Protestant  Religion." — Quoted  in  Hazard's  Register  of  Pe?insylvania,  I.  269,  270. 

In  connection  with  this  reference  to  the  Bishop  of  London's  interest  in  the  settlement  of 
Pennsylvania,  it  may  not  be  inappropriate  to  quote  the  following  paragraph  from  a  letter  of 
the  Proprietary,  as  indicating,  in  Penn's  own  words,  the  source  of  that  admirable  policy  which 
contributed  so  largely  to  the  safety  and  success  of  the  infant  settlement ; 

"Philadelphia,  the  14th  of  the  Sixth  Month,  1683. 
"I  have  only  to  add,  that  the  Province  hath  a  prospect  of  an  extraordinary  improvement, 
as  well  by  divers  sorts  of  strangers,  as  English  subjects ;  that,  in  all  acts  of  justice,  we  name 
and  venerate  the  King's  Authority;  that  I  have  followed  the  Bishop  of  London" 's  council,  by- 
buying,  and  not  taking  away  the  natives'  land ;  with  whom  I  have  settled  a  very  kind  corres- 
pondence."— Proud' s  History  of  Pennsylvania,  I.  274. 

Pp.   6,  7. 

Many  of  the  signers  of  this  Address  to  Gov.  Nicholson  are  incidentally  referred  to  in  the 
Penn  and  Logan  Correspondence,  forming  the  IXth  and  Xth  Volumes  of  the  Memoirs  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Historical  Society.  As  these  allusions  are  occasioned  by  the  part  taken  by  the 
more  prominent  among  the  "Church  party"  in  opposition  to  the  proceedings  of  the  Quakers, 
they  must,  of  course,  be  received  with  allowance  for  party  prejudices  and  the  animosities  inci- 
dent upon  political  and  theological  differences. 


499 

P.  7. 

Further  notices  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Sewall,  of  Maryland,  are  to  be  found  among  the 
Maryland  MSS.,  and  incidental  allusions  to  him  appear  in  the  New  York  MSS.  ;  in  the  Acts 
of  Dr.  Bray's  Visitations,  reprinted  in  Hawks's  Ecclesiastical  Contributions,  II.  (Maryland), 
pp.  500-523;  in  the  Historical  Collections  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  I.  42,  47; 
in  Anderson's  Colonial  Church,  III.  262,  and  in  Dorr's  History  of  Christ  Church,  p.  418. 

P.  8. 

Mr.  Woodbridge  is  referred  to  in  Savage's  Genealogical  Register,  and  also  in  Brook's 
History  of  Medford,  of  which  place  he  became  minister,  and  where  he  died,  Jan.  15,  1710,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-five. 

An  allusion  to  this  Mission  from  New  England  is  found  in  the  Penn  and  Logan  Corres- 
pondence (pp.  22,  23) ;  in  a  letter  from  Isaac  Norris  to  Daniel  Zachary,  of  Newcastle,  where 
Puritan  ministrations  were  kept  up  for  some  time : 

"Your  New  England  Ministers,  so  called,  seem  to  have  much  zeal  for  religion,  but  have  a 
peculiar  talent  in  the  application  and  practice ;  and  by  looking  no  further  than  their  own 
narrow  limits,  do  not  consider  the  universality  of  God's  love  to  the  creation,  and  how  pleasing 
it  is  in  His  sight  that  we  carry  a  moral  and  civil  respect  and  love  to  our  fellow-creatures,  as 
brethren  by  creation,  and  the  workmanship  of  his  hands,  all  of  a  price  as  to  our  materials. 
But  I  leave  this  digression,  and  only  hint  that  certainly  they  have  no  legal  right,  much  less 
divine,  to  claim  a  maintenance  from  you,  that  hear  them  not." 

Pp.  8,  9. 

The  "  equanimity  and  civility  "  "  shewed  to  our  Brethren  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Church  of 
England  in  Boston,"  and  the  "free  use"  of  "the  spacious  new  Meeting-House  in  Boston  for 
divine  service,"  may  be  more  truthfully  inferred  from  the  following  extracts  from  Judge  Sewall's 
Journal —  "  Tuesday,  Dec.  21.  There  is  a  meeting  at  Mr.  Allen's  of  ye  Ministers  and  four  of 
each  congregation,  to  consider  what  answer  to  give  to  ye  Governor,"  (who  had  applied  for  the 
use  of  one  of  the  three  Meeting-houses  "that  they  may  say  prayers  there  "),  "  and  'twas  agreed 
yl  could  not  with  a  good  conscience  consent  y'  our  Meeting-houses  should  be  made  use  of  for 
ye  Common  prayer  worship.  Dec.  22.  In  ye  evening,  Mr.  Mather  and  Mr.  Willard  thoroughly 
discoursed  his  Excellency  about  ye  Meeting-houses,  in  great  plainness,  shewing  they  could  not 
consent."*  The  Council  had  earlier  denied  the  same  request,  and  the  "East  end  of  ye  Town- 
house where  ye  Deputies  used  to  meet  "  wasgranted  "  until  those  who  desire  his"  (Mr.  Ratcliffe's) 
"Ministry  shall  provide  a  fitter  place."  The  use  of  the  "spacious  new  Meeting-house"  was 
only  secured  through  the  arbitrary  requirement  of  the  Governor. f  Even  the  purchase  of  land 
was  hindered,  Judge  Sewall  refusing  an  application  for  the  sale  of  a  portion  of  his  estate,  prin- 
cipally because,  he  said,  "he  would  not  set  up  that  which  the  people  came  from  England  to 
avoid."  X  One  cannot  fail  to  wonder  at  this  disingenuousness  of  the  Puritan  Governor  in 
pleading  on  such  a  ground  as  this  for  toleration  and  civility. 

*  Quoted  in  Drake's  History  of  Boston,  p.  469.    Vide,  also,  Greenwood's  History  of  King's  Chapel,  pp.  28-40. 
f  Drake,  p.  469.     Greenwood,  p.  38.     Wisner's  Hist,  of  the  Old  South  Ch.  pp.  17,  18.     J  Drake,  p.  470, 


5oo 
p.  ii. 

Further  notices  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Clayton,  first  rector  of  the  Church  at  Philadelphia,  are 
to  be  found  in  the  Hist.  Coll.  of  the  Prot.  Epis.  Church,  I.  pp.  49,  68;  in  Anderson's  Colonial 
Church,  II.  p.  436;  III.  p.  257  ;  in  Hawkins's  Missions  of  the  Church  of  England  in  the  Colonies, 
pp.  16,  107;  in  Dorr's  Hist,  of  Christ  Church,  pp.  8,  24,  280,  333.  His  death  in  1699,  is  re- 
ferred to  in  the  Memoirs  of  the  Hist.  Soc.  of  Penn.  IX.  p.  58. 

Col.  Quarry's  memorial  to  the  Governor  and  Council  against  David  Lloyd  recites  in  full 
the  story  of  Lloyd's  ridiculing  the  seal  of  the  Admiralty  Court,  which  is  referred  to  in  Mr. 
Suder's  letter.      Vide  Hazard's  Colonial  Records,  I.  pp.  603,  604. 

Pp.    12,  13. 

We  have  followed  the  manuscript  closely  in  giving  the  name  of  the  writer  of  this  letter, 
but  the  internal  evidence  would  point  to  Thomas  Makin,  usher  and  successor  to  George  Keith 
in  the  Quaker  School  set  up  in  Philadelphia,  in  the  summer  of  1689,  to  which  reference  is 
made  in  the  letter  of  Mr.  Arrowsmith,  on  page  7  of  this  volume.  Extracts  from  some  Latin 
verses  of  Makin's,  entitled  "Descriptio  Pennsylvania,"  are  quoted  in  Proud's  Pennsylvania,  I. 
pp.  211,  212,  469,  470;  II.  pp.  360-373. 

P.    16. 

The  Rev.  Edward  Portlock  was  the  first  minister  of  the  Church  in  New  Jersey,  and  after- 
wards removed  to  Virginia.  Notices  of  him  will  be  found  in  the  Hist.  Collect,  of  the  Prot. 
Epis.  Church,  I.  68  ;  in  the  Historical  Collections  of  the  Am.  Col.  Church,  Virginia,  I.  pp. 
142,  143,  144,  150,  151,  163,  180,  181  ;  and  in  Whitehead's  Contributions  to  East  Jersey  His- 
tory, pp.  209,  210. 

P.    17. 

Further  letters  from  the  Rev.  George  Keith,  addressed  to  the  Society  for  the  Propagation 
of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  are  printed  in  full  in  the  Hist.  Coll.  of  the  Prot.  Epis.  Church. 
I.  pp.  n-31  ;  and  his  "Journal  of  Travels  from  New  Hampshire  to  Caratuck,  On  the  Conti- 
nent of  North  America,"  is  reprinted  in  the  same  volume  from  the  rare  edition  of  1706.  A 
copy  of  the  original  is  in  the  Library  of  Harvard  College,  at  Cambridge,  Mass.  Notices  of  Mr. 
Keith  are  to  be  found  in  detail  in  Proud's  History  of  Penn.,  I.  345,  363-376,  402  ;  in  Hazard's 
Register  of  Penn.,  I.  370,  371  ;  and,  incidentally  in  Anderson's  Col.  Ch.  ;  in  Hawkins's  Mis- 
sions of  the  Ch.  of  Eng.  in  the  Colonies  ;  in  Clark's  Hist,  of  St.  John's,  Elizabeth ;  in  Dorr's 
Christ  Church  ;  in  Bolton's  Hist,  of  the  Ch.  in  Westchester  County  ;  in  Berrian's  Hist,  of 
Trinity  Church  ;  in  Sprague's  Annals  of  the  Am.  Epis.  Pulpit ;  and  in  almost  every  volume  re- 
lating to  our  early  Ecclesiastical  history.  In  the  Penn  and  Logan  correspondence,  are  very 
interesting  allusions  to  Keith,  from  the  Quaker  standing-point  (pp.  81,  179,  182,  185,  196. 
275).  An  opposite  view  of  "that  lump  of  scandal,"  as  Penn  styles  him,  is  to  be  found  in  Bp. 
Burnet's  History  of  his  own  time,  Bonn's  Edition,  London,  1857: 

"The  Quakers  have  had  a  great  breach  made  among  them  by  one  George  Keith,  a  Scotch- 
man, with  whom  I  had  my  first  education  at  Aberdeen  :  he  had  been  thirty-six  years  among 
them  ;  he  was  esteemed  the  most  learned  man  that  ever  was  in  that  sect ;  he  was  well  versed 


50i 

both  in  the  oriental  tongues,  in  philosophy,  and  mathematics  ;  after  he  had  been  above  thirty 
years  in  high  esteem  among  them,  he  was  sent  to  Pennsylvania  (a  colony  set  up  by  Penn,  where 
they  are  very  numerous),  to  have  the  chief  direction  of  the  education  of  their  Youth.  In  those 
parts,  he  said,  he  discovered  that  which  had  been  always  either  denied  to  him,  or  so  disguised 
that  he  did  not  suspect  it,  but  being  far  out  of  reach,  and  in  a  place  where  they  were  masters, 
they  spoke  out  their  mind  plainer ;  and  it  appeared  to  him  that  they  were  deists,  and  that  they 
turned  the  whole  doctrine  of  the  Christian  religion  into  allegories ;  chiefly  those  which  relate 
to  the  death  and  resurrection  of  Christ,  and  the  reconciliation  of  sinners  to  God  by  virtue  of 
his  cross.  He,  being  a  true  Christian,  set  himself  with  great  zeal  against  this,  upon  which 
they  grew  weary  of  him,  and  sent  him  back  to  England.  At  his  return,  he  set  himself  to  read 
many  of  their  books,  and  then  he  discovered  the  mystery  which  was  formerly  so  hid  from  him 
that  he  had  not  observed  it.  Upon  this  he  opened  a  new  meeting,  and  by  a  printed  summons 
he  called  the  whole  party  to  come  and  see  the  proof  he  had  to  offer,  to  convince  them  of  these 
errors ;  few  Quakers  came  to  his  meetings,  but  great  multitudes  of  other  people  flocked  about 
him  ;  he  brought  the  Quakers'  books  with  him,  and  read  such  passages  out  of  them  as  con- 
vinced his  hearers  that  he  had  not  charged  them  falsely.  He  continued  these  meetings,  being 
still  in  outward  appearance  a  quaker,  for  some  years,  till  having  prevailed  as  far  as  he  saw  any 
probability  of  success,  he  laid  aside  their  exterior,  and  was  reconciled  to  the  Church,  and  is  now 
in  Holy  Orders  among  us,  and  likely  to  do  good  service  in  undeceiving  and  reclaiming  some  of 
those  misled  enthusiasts. ' '  * 

Frequent  references  to  the  Rev.  John  Thomas  are  to  be  found  in  Bolton's  History  of  West- 
chester, I.  244.  245  (where  his  pedigree  is  given);  II.  104;  also  in  Bolton's  Westchester 
Church,  pp.  35,  50,  1S9,  210,  213,  214,  293,  416.  The  "Abstracts"  appended  to  the 
Annual  Sermons  preached  before  the  Venerable  Society,  contain  occasional  notices  of  his  mis- 
sionary work  on  Long  Island,  and  the  New  York  MSS.  refer  to  him  again  and  again.  Some 
of  these  interesting  papers  relating  to  his  work  at  Hempstead  are  to  be  found  in  the  Documen- 
tary History  of  New  York,  III.  115,  118,  130,  209,  226,  233. 

Pp.    17,  18. 

The  Rev.  Evan  Evans,  D.D.,  of  Brazen  Nose  College,  Oxford,  who  is  here  first  referred  to, 
may  justly  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  faithful  and  prominent  of  our  early  clergy.  His 
name  is  identified  with  the  history  of  the  Church  in  Philadelphia,  and  abundant  reference  to 
his  labors  and  success  will  be  found  on  the  pages  of  this  volume.  A  sketch  of  his  life  is  to  be 
found  in  Sprague's  Annals,  pp.  22-25.  The  following  letter  from  William  Penn  to  Robert 
Asheton,  contained  in  the  Penn.  Archives.  I.  pp.  134.  135,  is  of  interest: 

"New  Castle,  9bre  ist,  1700. 
"The  new  Minister  sent  over  for  Philad'a,  has  been  with  me,  and  appears  a  man,  sober  and 
of  a  mild  Disposition,  y'  may  (be)  pevailed  wth  to  be  easy,  I  must  yefore  desire  thee  to  use  all 
early  methods  by  thyself,  and  such  others  of  yor  Church  as  are  for  Peace,  and  a  ffriendly  under - 

*  In  this  year  (1700)  he  published  "  Reasons  for  renouncing  the  sect   called  Quakers."     He   died  about  the 
year  1715. 


502 

standing  to  make  impressions  on  his  mind  for  the  best,  and  by  all  reasonable  means,  endeavour 
to  dispose  him  to  an  easiness  of  mind  and  good  inclination  to  the  Publick,  and  the  People  in 
general  he  is  now  to  live  amongst,  assuring  him  that  while  he  behaves  himself  with  Candour 
and  Ingenuity,  he  shall  want  no  Good-will  from,  nor  Kindness  that  I  can  shew  him,  and  that 
he  may  expect  as  much  favour  in  all  reasonable  things,  as  he  could  from  any  Govr  of  his  own 
way.  They  (thy)  care  in  this.  I  hope  I  may  depend  on  having  assurance  of  thy  good  incli- 
nations to  the  peace  of  yc  Publick,  and  that  thou  art  sensible  one  of  the  greatest  Advantages 
to  be  reeaped  from  Religion  is  a  quiet  and  easy  mind,  wch  as  it  is  outwardly  enjoyed  will  show 
itself,  no  less  in  all  exteriour  things.  As  thou  finds  Occasion,  a  line  from  thee  on  this  head 
would  be  acceptable  to  Him  that  is  \v'h  kind  Love  to  thyself  &  family.     Thy  assured  frd, 

&  affectionate  Kinsman..     W.   P. 
(Endorsed)  "Gov.  to  R.  Asheton,  about,  y°  Ch.  of  Engd,  Minister,  N.  C,  Qbcr  i",  1700." 

Removing  to  Maryland  after  a  long  and  faithful  service  at  Philadelphia,  he  is  referred  to 
frequently  in  the  "Maryland  Manuscripts"  gathered  by  the  late  Dr.  Hawks  in  England,  and 
also  in  the  volume  relating  to  the  Church  in  New  York;  while  every  printed  work  referring  in 
any  way  to  the  early  annals  of  the  American  Church,  at  this  period  of  its  history,  will  be  found 
to  contain  allusions  to  him.  The  Original  MSS.  from  which  these  papers  are  printed,  comprise 
several  interesting  Autographs  of  Dr.  Evans,  and  others  are  to  be  found  among  the  Smith  and 
White  MSS.  belonging  to  the  General  Convention  of  the  Prot.  Epis.  Church. 

P.    19. 

The  Rev.  Henry  Nicholls  after  several  years'  service  at  Chester,  removed  to  Maryland, 
where  he  labored  for  many  years.  In  a  MS.,  "  Character  of  the  Clergy  in  Maryland,"  assigned 
by  the  Rev.  Ethan  Allen,  D.D.,  to  "the  end  of  1722  or  the  beginning  of  1723,"  the  anony- 
mous author  speaks  of  him  as  "a  whig  and  one  of  the  best  of  men,"  and  under  date  of  May 
23>  I735>  tne  Rev-  Arthur  Holt,  from  Barbadoes,  writes  "there  are  some  worthy  good  clergy 
in  this  district.  Mr.  Nicholls  is  very  regular  in  his  manner  of  life  and  strict  in  the  observation  of 
the  Rules  of  the  Church."  Earlier  the  same  Clergyman  writes:  "In  Mr.  Nicol's  Parish  the 
Churches  are  full  and  the  Communion  large  and  the  decency  observed  in  the  places  of  Divine 
Service  second  to  none  I  have  ever  yet  seen."  These  and  other  testimonies  to  his  character 
will  serve  to  correct  any  unfavorable  impressions  which  his  removal  from  Pennsylvania,  as 
detailed  on  a  subsequent  page,  might  excite. 

The  Rev.  John  Talbot  preached  the  first  sermon  in  the  Church  at  Chester.  Of  his  con- 
nection with  the  Rev.  George  Keith,  and  his  long  and  successful  labors  in  New  Jersey,  the  first 
volume  of  the  Historical  Collections  of  the  Prot.  Epis.  Church,  and  the  New  Jersey,  the  New 
York,  and  the  Maryland  MSS.  bear  abundant  testimony.  No  name  among  our  early  clergy 
deserves  a  more  lasting  remembrance ;  no  labors  have  borne  more  enduring  or  more  abundant 
fruit. 

Pp.    20,  21. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Clergy  referred  to  in  the  letters  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Evans  to  the 
Bishop  of  London,  and  the  Rev.  George  Keith,  the  following  paper  was  presented  : 


503 

"A  Summary  Account 

of  the  State  of  the  Church  in  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  as  it  was  laid  before  the  Clergy, 
Octr  sth  1 704,  at  New  York,  by  the  appointment  of  his  Excellency  Edward  Lord  Cornbury  & 
Colonel  Francis  Nicholson. 

Alex.  Innes,  Wm  Vesey,  Evan  Evans, 

Tho.  Pritchard,  John  Talbot,  John  Bartow, 

Henry  Nichols,  Daniel  Bondet,  Wm  Urquhart, 

Rob'  Owen,  Tho.  Moore,  John  Sharp. 

A  Summary  Account  of  the  State  of  the  Church  in  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  as  it  was 
presented  to  a  meeting  of  the  Clergy  of  the  Provinces  of  New  York,  New  Jersey,  &  Pennsylva- 
nia, &c.     October  11th,  1704. 

Dover  hundred  at  St.  Jones  in  Kent  County. 

There  is  a  Church  built  &  like  to  be  finished  by  the  latter  end  of  May,  whose  charge  when 
finished  will  amount  to  ^250. 

A  minister  is  expected  daily  ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Crawford,  who  was  sent,  being  forced  back  to 
England. 

A  Salary  of  ^55  17s,  Pennsylvania  money  being  already  subscribed  &  intended  to  be  made 
up  to  ;£6o,  besides  some  land  designed  to  be  settl'd  as  a  Glebe. 

A  further  Account  is  sent  to  our  Diocesan, 

EVAN  EVANS. 

APPOQUINOMY  IN  NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 

The  Church  is  boarded  &;  covered,  and  by  further  assistance  will  be  fit  for  Service  in  a 
short  time. 

A  Collection  of  ^130  Pensilvania  Money  chiefly  Contributed  by  Strangers,  Especially  his 
Excellency  Governor  Nicholson. 

No  Minister  yet  arrived  ;  they  have  sent  an  Address  to  our  Diocesan,  &  deem  that  one  may 
be  speedily  sent  in. 

The  People  being  of  Mean  Circumstances  cannot  Contribute  much  towards  the  Support  of 
a  Minister. 

A  more  ample  Account  is  sent  to  the  Bishop  of  London. 

EVAN  EVANS. 

NEW  CASTLE  TOWN  IN  NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 

A  fair  Church  of  Brick  is  building,  the  Windows  set  in,  &  likewise  to  be  covered  before 
Winter.  The  Church  is  built  on  a  plot  of  Ground  where  formerly  was  a  Fort,  which  we  suppose 
may  belong  to  the  Crown,  but  is  now  claimed  by  M1.  Pen,  Proprietor ;  it  is  large  enough  for  a 
Minister's  house  &  school-house ;  the  Inhabitants  petition  that  her  Majesty  may  be  solicited  to 
confirm  this  Land  to  the  use  aforesaid. 

The  Inhabitants  have,  and  do  still  supplicate  for  a  Minister,  and  such  a  one  as  under- 
stands the  Welch  Tongue,  by  reason  of  the  removal  of  a  great  many  Welch  families  from  Rad- 
nor to  this  Neighbourhood. 


504 

They  can  make  but  a  Slender  Contribution  by  reason  of  their  fewness  and  the  opposition 
of  Dissenters  which  are  mostly  Presbyterians,  and  therefore  do  humbly  lay  their  case  before  the 
Honb,c  Society. 

The  Word  of  God  is  sometimes  preached  here  on  week  days  by  the  Minister  of  Chester. 

CHESTER  TOWN  IN  CHESTER  COUNTY. 

The  Church  is  almost  finished,  &  they  have  Subscriptions  sufficient  to  complete  it  except 
the  procuring  Church  Vestments  as  a  Pulpit  Cloth  &  the  like. 

That  Church  would  be  much  improved  if  the  land  detained  in  the  hands  of  one  David 
Lloyd  were  restored  to  the  Church,  or  if  the  Minister  were  maintained  out  of  the  Queen's 
Customs  as  the  Minister  of  Philadelphia  is,  the  people  who  are  mostly  Converts  from  Quaker- 
ism being  not  forward  to  be  at  any  Charge  on  such  Account. 

A  school  is  greatly  wanting  there  which  should  be  dependant  on  the  Church.  A  great 
many  of  the  Welch  who  lived  in  this  County  being  remov'd  to  New  Castle,  the  rest  are  not 
able  either  to  support  a  Minister  or  build  a  Church  ;  they  come  1 1  Miles  to  Church  at  Chester, 
but  Mr.  Evans  &  Mr.  Nichols  do  visit  them  &  preach  in  the  Welch  Tongue. 

A  Library  of  such  Books  as  particularly  relates  to  Controversies  are  Wanting  here.  The 
Church  is  called  S'.  Paul's.     Mr.  Henry  Nichols,  Minister. 

CHRIST  CHURCH  IN   PHILADELPHIA  CITY,  THE    METROPOLIS  OF  THIS  PROVINCE. 

Mr.  Evan  Evans,  Minister. 

A  School-master  is  greatly  wanting  in  this  place,  on  whom  ^30  p*  Anm  is  already  estab- 
lished, &  he  will  meet  with  suitable  Encouragement. 

Here  are  two  Churches,  One  English  &  one  Swedish  without  the  Town,  One  Presbyterian 
Meeting,  2  Quaker's  Meeting  houses,  where  they  preach  by  Turns,  likewise  the  Anabaptists  have 
a  Meeting. 

EVAN  EVANS, 
Minister  of  Philadelphia. 

TRINITY  CHURCH  AT  OXFORD  NEAR  FRANKFORT  IN  THE  COUNTY  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Mr.  Andrew  Rudman,  late  Swedish  Minister,  by  the  direction  of  Mr.  George  Keith  serves 
there  now  in  hopes  of  Encouragement  from  the  Honble  Society.  The  Church  has  been  long 
since  built,  &  the  people  lately  reduced  from  Quakerism  are  not  so  able  or  willing,  as  could.be 
wished,  to  support  a  Minister. 

At  German  Town  in  the  same  County  the  people  are  numerous,  they  want  both  Church 
and  Minister.* 

EVAN  EVANS." 
P.    21. 

The  Rev.  Andrew  Rudman,  "Master  of  Philosophy,"  was  appointed  by  the  Archbishop  of 
Upsal,  Sweden,  to  minister  to  the  Swedes  on  the  Delaware,  June  25,  1696,  in  connection  with 

*  From  the  Volume  of  MSS.  of  the  Church  General. 


5©5 

the  Rev.  Eric  Biork  and  the  Rev.  Jonas  Auren.  Dr.  Clay.,  in  his  interesting  "Annals  of  the 
Swedes  on  the  Delaware"  (second  edition,  Phila.  1858),  gives  in  detail  the  story  of  his  minis- 
trations, and  records  his  death  on  the  if  of  September,  1708,  at  the  age  of  forty  years.  The 
fraternal  intercourse  between  the  Clergy  of  Swedish  ordination  and  the  Missionaries  of  the 
Church  of  England  continued  until  after  the  independent  organization  of  the  American 
Church,  when  these  venerable  parishes  were  absorbed  into  our  own  Communion  of  which  they 
had  long  been  essentially  a  part. 

Pp.    22-24. 

Notices  of  the  organization  and  early  history  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Chester,  are  to  be  found 
in  Humphrey's  Historical  Account  of  the  Incorporated  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gos- 
pel in  Foreign  Parts  (London,  1730),  pp.  151— 155  ;  in  Anderson's  Colonial  Church,  III.  258, 
259,  and  in  "The  record  of  the  Court  at  Upland,  in  Pennsylvania,  1676,  1681,"  published 
in  the  Memoirs  of  the  Hist.  Soc.  of  Penn.  VII.  pp.  121,  152,  153,  200,  201,  202.  An  engrav- 
ing of  the  Mural  Tablet  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  Chester,  in  memory  of  "James  Sanderland's, 
Marchant,  and  his  wife  Ann  Sanderland's,"  forms  the  frontispiece  to  this  latter  volume. 


The  Rev.  John  Clubb  and  the  Rev.  George  Ross  will  be  referred  to  again  and  again  in  the 
following  pages,  and  the  latter  in  the  volume  detailing  the  early  annals  of  the  Church  in  Mary- 
land, to  which  province  he  removed.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Crawford  soon  left  Dover-Hundred 
for  Maryland,  where  he,  or  one  of  the  same  surname,  had  officiated  at  St.  Mary's  in  1692. 
(Allen's  Hist.  Notices  of  St.  Ann's  Parish,  Baltimore,  1857,  p.  23.) 

P.   29. 

It  is  only  necessary  to  refer  to  the  first  volume  of  the  Collections  of  the  Am.  Colonial 
Church  (Virginia)  for  frequent  mention  of  the  unhappy  controversy  between  the  excellent  Com- 
missary of  Virginia  and  the  erratic  Nicholson.  A  single  extract  from  "The  further  Affidavit 
of  James  Blair,  Clerk,  concerning  Govr  Nicholson's  Mai-Administration  with  relation  to  the 
Clergy,  the  College  &  Himself"  (Virginia  Papers,  pp.  131-138),  under  date  of  May  1st,  1704, 
will  suffice:  "And  till  of  late  that  he  had  occasion  for  encomiums  from  them"  (the  Clergy), 
"to  support  his  interest  in  England,  never  any  Govr  used  the  Clergy  so  barbarously  as  he  has 
done. 

"These  addresses  he  not  only  bare-facedly  asks  but  uses  the  way  of  threats  &  presents  & 
threats  &  insults  to  obtain  &  if  these  addresses  do  not  come  up  to  what  he  would  have,  proposes  new 
draughts  &  endeavours  by  making  &  feeding  differences  in  their  Parishes,  to  make  the  scrupulous 
ministers  uneasy  &  to  get  them  laid  aside,  by  which  means  the  basest  of  the  Clergy  &  the  for- 
wardest  to  flatter,  are  become  his  greatest  favorites  &  several  of  the  best  ministers  have  been  so 
harrass'd  that  they  have  chosen  rather  to  quit  the  Country  than  to  endure  the  fatigues  &  ex- 
torted flatteries,  or  insults  of  his  Government." 

In  this  connection  we  transcribe  from  the  Penn.  Archives  (I.  pp.  150,  151),  under  date  of 
1702,  (?)  the  following  Memorial,  endorsed, — 
«4 


506 

"The  Ministers  and  Vestry  of  X1  Church,  Philadelphia,  on  behalf  of  his  Excellency 
Gov'  Nicholson." 

"Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  August  31. 
"May  it  please  your  Lordship, — 

"We,  the  Ministers  and  Vestry  of  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,  humbly  crave  leave  to  lay 
before  your  Lo1'  our  deepest  Concern  and  Sorrow  for  the  ungrateful  Opposition  our  very  worthy 
Patron,  his  Excellency  of  Virginia,  has  unhappily  met  with  from  Mr.  Blair  and  his  factious 
accomplices.  We  cannot  but  with  a  Christian  Indignation  consider  that  so  good  a  Nursing 
Father  of  our  holy  mother,  so  unparalleled  and  munificent  a  Promoter  of  it  should  be  ungrate- 
fully traduced  by  the  more  immediate  sons  of  it,  and  that  by  all  the  Ace"  and  Informations  we 
can  have  of  that  unhappy  Division,  very  groundless  and  causeless,  but  known  P'ticularly  to 
some  of  us  to  be  a  monstrous  deformed  Brood  of  malice,  and  the  wicked  suggestion  of  our  grand 
common  Enemy,  whose  Province  it  is  to  sow  Discord,  and  to  establish  if  possible  his  own  heter- 
ogeneous Tyranny  upon  the  Ruin  of  our  Saviour's  kingdom.  We  humbly  desire  that  we  may 
not  be  thought  by  yor  Lo1'  as  fond  of  intermeddling  in  a  cause  not  so  prop'ly  our  own ;  but 
being  obliged  to  it  by  all  the  Tyes,  both  of  Charity  and  gratitude,  as  well  to  do  his  Excellency- 
Justice  as  to  undeceive  yor  Lo1'.  We  are  bold  to  assure  yor  Lo1'  that  all  those  calumnies  and 
wicked  machinations  made  use  of  to  defame  his  Excellency  are  only  the  Malicious  Decrees  of  a 
few  factious,  Discontented  Instruments,  who,  to  satisfy  their  own  revengeful  Contrivances 
would,  if  possible,  shake  yc  firmest  and  strongest  Column  of  an  American  Church;  and  that  it 
is  a  malicious  Contrivance  we  shall  humbly  beg  Leave  to  instance  to  your  Lo''  in  one  only  par- 
ticular, his  Excellency  having  according  to  his  well  signalized  Loyalty,  summoned  the  Country 
together  to  solemnize  her  M"  s  most  happy  Accession  to  the  Throne,  at  which  M'.  Blair  deliv- 
ered an  Oration,  taking  occasion  to  expatiate  largely  upon  his  late  Ma'r<  virtue,  of  glorious 
Memory,  in  the  Conclusion  makes  his  Excellency  the  Reverse  of  all  that  he  had  said  before, 
tho'  not  by  Name,  yet  by  such  Evident  Insinuations  before  yc  Face  of  the  whole  Country  (met 
together  on  that  solemn  occasion  to  congratulate  her  Sacred  Ma'JS  accession  to  the  Crown,  and 
not  to  be  laden  with  prejudices  &  Animosities  ag'  their  Governor),  that  the  meanest  Capacity 
might  apprehend  &  fathom  y°  Contrivance.  By  this  single  Instance  of  Inhumanity  &  Ingrati- 
tude yor  Lo1'  may  see  thro'  the  whole  series  of  suggestions  undeservedly  insinuated  ag'  his  Ex- 
cellency, wcl1  were  they  in  any  manner  probable,  yet  Clergymen,  especially  Mr.  Blair,  after  so 
many  signal  Favours  shown  him  by  his  Excellency,  had  Reason  silently  to  pass  over,  rather 
than  maliciously  to  traduce  and  oppose  his  so  considerable  a  Benefactor,  who  leaves  Monuments 
of  his  matchless  Charity  &  Instances  of  his  Benefactions  wherever  he  goes ;  who  has  largely 
diffused  his  Munificences  to  Churches  now  erecting  at  Burlington,  Chester,  Newcastle,  Ap- 
poquiminic,  St.  Jones,*  &c,  as  will  appear  to  your  Lo1'  by  the  Addresses  of  ye  respective 
Inhabitants. 

"But  this  is  not  our  own  Sentiment,  but  a  Justice  due  to  our  worthy  Patron,  from  our  Sister 
Churches  of  York  and  Boston,  who  think  themselves  obliged  to  transmit  to  your  Lo1'  a  joynt 
Representation  for  yor  Lo' s  greater  satisfaction. 

*  Now  Dover,  on  Jones's,  or  anciently  St.  Jones's  Creek.      Vide  Gillett's  HUt.  Presbyt,  Cli.  I.  p.  42  (note). 


5°7 

"Once  more  we  are  humbly  bold  to  acquaint  &  repeat  to  yor  Lo1'  our  sincerest  assurances 
of  his  Excellency's  unblameableness  &  Innocency,  and  are  &  always  shall  be  ready,  with  our 
Sister  Churches,  founded  &  now  founding  through  his  Excellency's  great  Patronage  &  unlimited 
Bounty  to  Echo  out  his  Goodness  &  Liberality,  and  to  pray  for  his  Excellency's  long  Contin- 
uance among  us,  for  yc  Patronage  of  our  Infant  Churches  and  the  Propagation  of  Christianity 
in  these  remote  Corners  of  the  World. 

"May  God  of  His  infinite  mercy  &  Goodness,  afford  us  a  long  Continuance  of  your  Lops 
Fatherly  Care  over  us,  and  reward  you  for  all  yr  pious  Labours  with  all  possible  happiness  here, 
and  immortal  glory  hereafter." 


This  letter,  which,  in  view  of  Dr.  Blair's  testimony,  as  well  as  from  internal  evidence,  we 
may  not  unjustly  infer  to  have  been  the  composition  of  the  Governor,  is  without  signature 
or  date.  The  date,  as  the  records  of  Christ  Church  for  this  period  were  destroyed,  can 
only  be  supplied  by  conjecture.  Dr.  Hawks  assigns  it  to  the  year  1702,  and  is  followed  by  Mr. 
Samuel  Hazard,  the  editor  of  the  "Penn.  Archives,"  where  alone  this  fulsome  document  is  to 
be  found.  It  cannot  have  been  written  later  than  1704,  and  in  view  of  its  references  to  the 
Oration  at  William  and  Mary  College  on  the  Accession  of  Queen  Anne,  which  took  place  in 
1702,  and  the  bitter  controversies  growing  out  of  it,  the  date  may  be  either  1703  or  1704,  most 
probably  the  latter.  At  least,  it  is  but  natural  to  suppose  that  these  Memorials  may  have  been 
suggested  to  the  clergy  at  their  Convention  in  October,  1704,  and  prepared  by  the  vestries  on 
the  return  of  the  clergy  to  their  respective  cures. 

P.  31. 

The  case  of  the  Rev.  Thoroughgood  Moore  will  be  found  in  detail  in  the  New  Jersey 
Volume  of  this  series.  It  is  also  referred  to  in  Whitehead's  Contributions  to  East  Jersey  His- 
tory, pp.  213-215;  in  Clark's  Hist,  of  St.  John's,  Elizabeth,  pp.  23-32;  in  Anderson's  Col. 
Church,  III.  72,  297-300;    in  Hawkins's  Missions  in  the  Colonies,  pp.  265,  271,  281,  387,  and 

elsewhere. 

pP-   32-39- 

Another  copy  of  this  interesting  document  is  to  be  found  among  the  Bp.  White  MSS., 
preserved  among  the  Archives  of  the  American  Church.  Both  are  in  the  autograph  of  the 
venerable  writer,  and  exhibit  but  few  verbal  discrepancies. 

pP-  34,  37,  38>  39- 

The  story  of  the  "Efforts  to  obtain  the  Episcopate  before  the  Revolution,"  as  detailed  by 
the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks  in  the  first  volume  of  the  Collections  of  the  Prot.  Epis.  Historical 
Society,  pp.  136-157,  is  one  of  the  saddest  chapters  of  our  Ecclesiastical  Annals.  The  desire 
for  a  "Suffragan  "  seems  to  have  arisen  naturally  in  connection  with  the  efforts  of  the  Society 
for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts.     In  the  folio  "Account  of  the  Propagation 


5o8 

of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,"  prepared  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stubs,  and  printed  in  1704,  we  find 
the  following : 

"N.  B. — There  are  earnest  Addresses  from  divers  parts  of  the  Continent,  and  Islands 
adjacent,  for  a  SUFFRAGAN  to  visit  the  several  Churches ;  ordain  some,  confirm  others,  and 
bless  all." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Clergy  of  New  York,  New  Jersey,  and  Pennsylvania,  in  1705,  the  fol- 
lowing Address  was  sent  under  cover  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  of  which,  doubtless,  the 
mind  of  the  worthy  "minister  of  Philadelphia"  was  full  at  the  time  of  penning  the  Account 
of  the  Church  in  the  Province  which  is  given  in  these  pages.     This  Address  was  as  follows : 
"To  the  most  Reverend  Father  in  God,  the  Lord  Abps.,  the  Right  Reverend  the  Bishops,  and 

others  Right  Honourable  Members  of  the  Society  Erected  for  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 

Foreign  Parts. 

"  Your  Missionaries  being  convened  at  Burlington  esteem  themselves  in  duty  bound  to  lay 
before  the  Most  Reverend,  the  Right  Reverend  &  Right  Honorable  Members  of  the  Society, 
what  we  conceive  to  be  necessary,  with  God's  blessing  on  our  Labours,  to  promote  the  ends  of 
our  Mission.  The  presence  and  assistance  of  a  Suffragan  Bishop  is  most  needful  to  ordain  such 
persons  as  are  fit  to  be  called  to  serve  in  the  sacred  Ministry  of  the  Church.  We  have  been 
deprived  of  the  advantages  that  might  have  been  received  of  some  Presbyterian  &  Independent 
Ministers  that  formerly  were,  and  of  others  that  are  still  willing  to  conform  &  receive  the  Hoi}' 
Character,  for  want  of  a  Bishop  to  give.  The  Baptized  want  to  be  Confirmed.  Their  presence 
is  necessary  in  the  Councils  of  these  Provinces  to  prevent  the  inconveniences  which  the  Church 
labors  under  by  the  Influences  which  Seditious  Men's  Counsels  have  upon  the  public  adminis- 
tration &  the  oppositions  which  they  make  to  the  good  inclinations  of  well  affected  people.  He 
is  wanted  not  only  to  govern  and  direct  us,  but  to  Cover  us  from  the  Malignant  Effects  of  those 
misrepresentations  that  have  been  made  by  some  persons  impower'd  to  admonish  and  inform 
against  us,  who  indeed  want  admonition  themselves.  It  is  our  humble  desire  that  the  Custom  of 
the  Romans  of  not  Condemning  Men  before  they  be  heard  may  be  of  Force  with  the  most 
Reverend,  the  Right  reverend  &  Right  Hon'lle  Members  of  the  Society,  for  we  find  to  our  Grief 
that  those  Characters  given  of  us  by  those  persons  have  made  sad  impressions  on  your  minds, 
as  have  in  some  measure  lessened  our  reputation,  which  is  dearer  to  us  than  all  Your  Encour- 
agements which  we  have  received  by  Your  Bounty.  And  it  is  our  humble  prayer  that  no  Credit 
hereafter  be  given  by  the  Society  to  any  Complaints  against  us  but  such  as  are  under  the  hands 
of  three  of  the  Clergy.  The  Provinces  of  New  York,  the  Jerseys  and  Pennsylvania  consist  of 
People  of  several  Nations,  &  have  Preachers  among  them  that  speak  to  them  in  their  own 
Tongues.  The  Dutch  and  the  French  being  of  the  Presbiterian  Perswasion  And  the  former 
generally  tainted  with  Republican  Principles,  it  is  humbly  proposed  that  there  be  no  preacher 
permitted  to  preach  among  them  but  in  the  English  Tongue,  or  at  least  of  Episcopal  Ordina- 
tion, that  can  preach  both  in  English  &  in  their  own  Tongues,  Nor  any  schoolmasters  to  Teach 
any  Vulgar  Language,  but  the  English,  without  a  particular  license  from  the  Governor,  till  God 
bless  us  with  a  Bishop.  This  last  Expedient  is  thought  by  the  Governor  to  be  a  likely  means  of 
uniting  the  Country  both  in  their  religious  and  Civil  interests         * 


509 

—  and  humbly  beg  Your  Benediction  &  Prayers,  and  crave  leave  to  subscribe  ourselves,  as  we 

are, 

Most  Reverend,  Right  Reverend  &  Right  Honorable, 

Burlington,  Novr  2,  1750.  Your  most  Obedien'  &  humble  Serv", 

John  Talbot,  Tho.  Moore,  Hen.  Nicols, 

Ericus  Biorck,  ^Eneas  Mackenzie,  Geo.  Ross, 

Evan  Evans,  Geo.  Muirson,  Tho.   Crawford, 

Sam.  Mvles,  Andrew  Rudman,  Jno.  Sharpe, 

John  Brooke,  John  Clubb.*  " 

P.  40. 

The  Rev.  Messrs.  Moore  and  Brooke,  whose  departure  for  England  is  referred  to  in  Col. 
Quarry's  letter,  were  lost  at  sea. 

Pp-   42,  43- 

The  history  of  this  parish  is  admirably  told  in  an  "Historical  Sketch  of  the  Parish  of 
Trinity  Church,  Oxford,  Philadelphia.  Read  in  the  church  on  Sunday,  Aug.  2d,  by  the  Rev. 
Edward  Y.  Buchanan,  rector.     Philadelphia;   1857." 

Pp-  44,  45- 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Jenkyns  died  the  30th  of  the  month  following  that  in  which  Col.  Heath- 
cote's  letter  was  written.     He  is  appropriately  referred  to  in  Humphrey's  Hist.  Ace.  pp.  159,  160. 

Pp.   46,  47- 

Thomas  Graves,  "the  other  Church-warden,"  was  a  liberal  benefactor  of  the  Oxford 
Parish,  and  is  referred  to  in  Dr.  Buchanan's  "Historical  Sketch,"  pp.  10,  n,  20,  22.  Edward 
Eaton  appears,  from  the  references  to  him  in  the  Hist.  Coll.  of  the  Prot.  Epis.  Ch.  I.  p.  56,  and 
from  the  volume  of  MSS.  of  the  Church  General,  to  have  been  a  troublesome  individual.  The 
Harper  family  were  among  the  earliest  adherents  of  the  Church  in  this  parish.  Dr.  Buchanan 
makes  no  mention  of  Henry  Stirke. 

P.   49- 

The  Rev.  William  Black  removed,  very  soon  after  his  arrival,  into  Virginia.  Notices  of 
him  will  be  found  in  the  Virginia  Papers,  in  the  first  volume  of  the  Hist.  Coll  of  the  Am.  Col. 
Church,  pp.  186,  200,  300,  302;  and,  also,  incidentally,  in  Meade's  Old  Churches,  Ministers 
and  Families  of  Virginia,  I.  320.  Mr.  Black  was  inducted  into  the  parish  of  "  Accomake  "  on 
the  13th  of  March,  1709-10. 

P.  50. 

More  will  be  said  respecting  the  Rev.  Edward  Vaughan  in  connection  with  the  New 
Jersey  Papers.     Whitehead,  in  his  valuable  "  Contributions  to  East  Jersey  History,"  in  addition 

*  From  the  volume  of  MSS.  of  the  Church  General. 


5'0 

to  his  notices  of  the  labors  of  this  excellent  Missionary  (pp.  83,  216.  220,  387,  390,  408),  gives 
us  his  portrait  in  lithograph. 

P.   61. 

The  Rev.  Ericus  Biork  has  been  already  referred  to  as  one  of  the  Swedish  clergy  whose 
connection  with  the  ministers  and  members  of  our  early  Church  forms  an  interesting  chapter 
in  our  Ecclesiastical  Annals. 

P.   62. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Sinclair  returned  to  England  early  the  following  year  (17 12),  vide  a  letter 
from  the  Rev.  John  Sharpe  addressed  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Society,  under  date  of  "  New 
York,  Jan.  13,  171 2,"  among  the  N.  Y.  MSS. 

P.   64. 

The  Rev.  Jacob  Henderson,  afterwards  Commissary  of  the  Bishop  of  London  for  the 
Western  Shore  of  Maryland,  at  the  first  applied  for  the  mission  among  the  Five  Na- 
tions, but  was  refused  by  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,*  because  he  was  not  "an  English- 
born  subject."  Bishop  Compton,  who  had  recommended  him  for  the  Indian  Mission,  regard- 
ing him  as  "a  person  extraordinary  well  qualified  for  serving  the  Church  abroad,"  urged  his 
employment  by  the  Society  in  some  other  position,  and  he  was  consequently  appointed  to  the 
Mission  at  Dover-Hundred.  His  experience  in  this  field  is  detailed  in  these  pages.  His 
removal  to  Maryland  was  followed  by  a  long,  faithful  and  most  acceptable  ministry  in  that 
Province,  of  forty  years.  He  died  in  1751,  leaving  behind  him  the  reputation  of  piety, 
energy  and  distinguished  ability.  For  many  years  he  was  a  corporate  member  of  the  Vener- 
able Society,  and  bequeathed  to  it  at  his  death  a  legacy  of  upwards  of  ^1,000.  Notices  of  him 
will  be  found  in  Hawks's  Maryland  ;  in  the  New  York  Colonial  Documents,  V.  313,  315,  316, 
317,  318,  319,  321,  334,  336,  354,  355;  in  Sprague's  Annals  of  the  Am.  Epis.  Pulpit,  pp. 
34-38,  87;  in  Anderson's  Col.  Church,  III.  185,  186,  192-198,  and  in  Allen's  Hist.  Notices  of 
St.  Ann's  Parish  in  Ann  Arundel  County,  pp.  42-44,  49,  50,  51. 

Pp.   76-78. 

The  name  of  the  Rev.  John  Humphreys  has  appeared  before  (p.  73),  appended  to  an  Ad- 
dress to  the  Society  from  the  Pennsylvania  Clergy.  All  that  is  known  of  his  earlier  history, 
save  that  he  was  the  son  of  a  practitioner  of  physic  in  the  city  of  Limerick,  in  Minister,  Ireland, 
is  told  in  an  extract  from  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Society  by  Col.  Morris, 
of  New  Jersey,  under  date  of 

"New  York,  July  25th,  17 10. 

"By  this  conveyance  goes  over  one  M'.  John  Humphreys.  He  is  a  Bachelor  of  Arts;  he 
has  lived  soberly  and  frequented  the  Communion  during  his  stay :  his  design  is  to  Enter  into 
Orders.     He  is  a  young  man  but  whether  he  intends  to  come  over  into  this  Country  or  not,  I 

*  Vide  Letter  from  Bp.  Compton  to  the  Sec.  of  the  Ven.  Society,  dated  15th  September,  1710,  among  the  MSS. 
of  the  Church  General. 


5" 

can't  tell.  Mr.  Evans  had  some  thought  of  him  for  School  Master  at  Philadelphia."  *  After 
spending  a  number  of  years  in  Pennsylvania,  he  removed  to  Virginia  in  1724,  receiving  a  gra- 
tuity from  the  Ven.  Society  on  quitting  their  service,  for  the  hardships  he  had  experienced  in 
his  mission,  and  the  diligence  with  which  he  had  discharged  his  duties.  Mr.  Humphreys  died 
on  the  8th  of  July,  1739,  at  the  age  of  53.  He  had  exercised  his  ministry  twenty-four  years  in 
this  country,  and  fourteen  years  in  St.  Ann's  Parish,  Ann  Arundel  County,  Maryland.  Vide 
Allen's  Historical  Notices,  pp.  50-60,  77,  and  Dorr's  Hist,  of  Christ  Church,  pp.  44,  51,  414, 
415,  and  the  Abstracts  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Venerable  Society. 

P.    78- 

The  following  extract  from  the  "  Journal  of  Travels  from  New  Hampshire  to  Caratuck,  on 
the  Continent  of  North  America,  by  George  Keith,  A.M."  (Coll.  of  the  Prot.  Epis.  Historical 
Society,  I.  p.  35),  will  serve  to  correct  a  slight  error  in  the  History  of  St.  Paul's,  Chester: 

"January  24,  Sunday,  1 702,  "j"  I  preached  at  Philadelphia,  on  Mat.  5:  17,  both  in  the 
Forenoon  and  Afternoon  ;  Mr.  Evans  the  Minister  of  Philadelphia  having  that  Day  been  at 
Chester  in  Pennsylvania,  to  accompany  Mr.  Talbot,  who  was  to  preach  there  the  first  Sermon  in 
the  Church  after  it  was  built." 

P.   81. 

The  name  of  the  Rev.  Francis  Phillips  brings  us  to  one  of  the  saddest  chapters  of  our  earlv 
Church  history.  Leaving  the  Churchmen  at  Stratford,  Connecticut,  after  a  few  months'  service, 
"in  a  condition  worse  than  he  found  them,"  \  he  proceeded  first  to  New  York,  and  thence  to 
Philadelphia,  in  search  of  employment.  Prepossessing  in  his  appearance,  and  thoroughly 
unscrupulous  as  to  the  means  of  advancing  his  position,  he  readily  won  acceptance  among  the 
Church  people,  and  the  worthy  Dr.  Evans,  or  his  successor,  Dr.  Jenney,  were  little  likely  to 
maintain  their  hold  upon  the  popular  regard  in  comparison  with  this  adventurer.  The  shame- 
ful story  appears  in  full  upon  our  pages,  and  needs  no  further  comment  here. 

P.   86. 

Lt.  Gov.  Cooking's  advocacy  of  Mr.  Phillips  was  severely  animadverted  upon  by  the  Assembly 
in  their  Address  to  him,§  June  10,  1715,  and  appears  to  have  hastened  his  removal  from  office. 
In  a  later  address  the  Assembly  referred  to  the  Governor's  granting  a  Nolle  Prosequi  in  behalf 
of  "one  Francis  Phillips  (that  scandal  to  his  Order)  when  indicted  and  prosecuted  for  no- 
torious crimes,  after  all  the  neighboring  clergy  had  disowned  him."  || 

In  this  connection,  we  append  the  following  papers  from  a  collection  of  "Presentments, 
Petitions,  &c,  between  the  years  1702  and  1774,"  presented  to  the  Penn.  Hist.  Society  by 
John  William  Wallace,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  and  published  in  the  first  volume  of  the  Collec- 
tion of  the  Society,  pp.  262-264: 

*  From  the  volume  of  MSS.  of  the  Church  General. 

f  An  evident  misprint  for  1703,  as  Mr.  Keith  did  not  arrive  in  America  until  June,  1702. 

J  J'rde  Beardsley's  Hist,  of  the  Epis.  Ch.  in  Conn.  I.  26. 

\  Vide  Proud's  Pennsylvania,  II.  pp.  63-67.         ||  Ibid.  p.  93. 


512 

City  of  Philadelphia. 

The  Grand  Inquest  for  our  Lord  the  King,  upon  their  respective  oathes  and  affirmacons,  do 
present  That  Peter  Evans,  late  of  the  City  Philada.,  Gentl.  the  Tenth  Day  of  March,  In  the 
year  of  the  Reign  of  our  Lord  George,  King  of  Great  Britain,  France  and  Ireland,  De- 
fender of  the  Faith,  &c,  the  First  at  the  City  aforsd,  a  Certan  Challenge  in  Writing  to  one 
Francis  Phillips,  of  the  same  City,  Clerk,  did  send  to  Fight  him,  the  s*  Peter  Evans  at 
Sword  Did  send,  ag'  an  act  of  Gena"  Assembly  of  their  Government  in  that  Case  made  and 
Provided,  as  also  ag'  the  Peace  of  our  sd  Lord  ye  King,  his  Crown  and  Dignity,  &c. 

ASSHETON. 

Non  Cul.  Et  de  hoc. 

Attorney  Generall  Siliter, 

Philada. 

George,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  King  of  Great  Britain,  France  and  Ireland  Defender  of  the 
Faithe,  To  the  Coroner  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  Greeting.  We  command  you  that  you 
cause  to  come  before  our  Justices  assigned  to  keep  the  Peace  And  also  divers  Felonies,  Tres- 
passes and  other  offences  in  our  City  of  Philadelphia,  at  our  Court  of  Gena"  Qr.  Sessions,  there 
to  be  held  the  Seventh  Day  of  this  Inst.  July,  Twelve  free  and  Lawfull  men  of  your  Bayly  wick,  by 
whom  the  Truth  of  the  matter  may  be  the  better  known,  and  who  to  Peter  Evans  Gentl.  are  of 
no  affenety  to  make  a  Certain  Jury  of  the  Country  between  the  sd  Peter  upon  a  Certain  Chal- 
lenge in  writing  sent  by  him  the  sd  Peter  to  one  Francis  Philips,  Clerk.  Because  as  well  the 
s"  Peter  as  the  sd  Thomas  Clark,  Gentl.,  who  on  our  behalf  prosecutes,  have  put  themselves 
upon  that  Jury  and  have  you  there  the  names  of  the  Jurors  and  this  Writ.  Witness  Richard 
Hill,  Esq.,  Mayor,  the  Sixth  day  of  July,  in  yc  first  year  of  our  Reign,  1715. 

ASSHETON. 

We  of  the  Jury,  do  find  that  Peter  Evans  in  the  Indictment  mentioned,  did  send  a  Letter 
in  writing  to  Francis  Phillips,  Containing  these  words : 
Sir, 

You  have  basely  slandered  a  Gentlewoman  that  I  have  a  profound  respect  for,  And  for  my 
part  shall  give  you  a  fair  opportunity  to  defend  yourself  to-morrow  morning  on  the  West  side  of 
Jos.  Carpenter's  Garden,  betwixt  seven  and  8,  where  I  shall  expect  to  meet  you  Gladio  Cinctus, 
in  failure  whereof  depend  upon  the  usage  you  deserve  from 

Yr.  &c,  PETER  EVANS. 
Jan'y  21,  1714. 

I  am  at  ye  Pewter  Platter. 

Iff  upon  the  whole,  the  Court  do  Judge  the  words  contained  in  the  said  letter  to  be  a 
Challenge,  Then  we  do  find  the  said  Peter  Evans  guilty.  But  if  the  Court  do  Judge  the 
words  contained  in  the  said  letter  are  no  challenge,  Then  we  do  find  the  sd  Peter  Evans  not 
Guilty. 

Curia  advisari  vult. 
City  of  Philadelphia. 

The  Grand  Inquest  for  our  Lord  the  King,  upon  their  respective  affirmations  do  present 


5i3 

that  Francis  Philips,  late  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  Clerk,  the  fifteenth  day  of  June,  in  the 
Year  of  the  Reign  of  our  Lord  George,  King  of  Great  Britain,  ffrance  and  Ireland,  De- 
fender of  the  faith,  &c,  the  ffirst  at  the  City  af'd,  then  and  there  Contriving  and  Intending 
Richard  Hill  Mayor  of  the  sd  City,  and  Robert  Assheton,  Recorder  of  sd  City,  Justices  of  the 
peace  of  our  Lord  the  King,  in  the  City  and  County  of  Philadelphia,  assigned  to  keep  their 
authority  as  much  as  in  them  lies,  to  deprive,  annihilate  and  contemn  then  and  there  of  the  sd 
Mayor  and  Recorder,  those  English  words  following,  openly  and  publicly  did  say  and  utter 
viz  :  Tell  the  Mayor,  Richard  Hill  (the  Mayor  of  this  City  meaning) ,  and  Robert  Assheton, 
(the  Recorder  of  this  city  meaning),  that  they  (the  sd  Mayor  and  Recorder  meaning),  that  I 
say  they  (the  said  Mayor  and  Recorder  meaning),  are  no  better  than  Rogues,  Villains  and 
scoundrells,  for  they  (the  said  Mayor  and  Recorder  still  meaning),  have  not  done  me  justice, 
and  might  as  well  have  sent  a  man  to  pick  my  pockett  or  rob  my  house,  as  to  have  taken  away 
my  serv'  (one  Elizabeth  Starkey,  a  pretended  serv'  of  the  sd  Francis's  by  order  of  Court  dis- 
charged meaning)  to  the  great  Deprivation  of  the  Authority  of  the  said  Mayor  and  Recorder, 
in  the  manifest  contempt  of  the  Laws  of  our  Lord  the  King,  as  also  ag'  the  peace  of  our  Lord 
the  King,  his  Crown  and  Dignity. 

ASSHETON. 
Non  cul.  et  de  hoc,  &c. 

Attorney  Gen"  Siliter,  &c. 

So  insinuating  was  this  man  in  his  address,  that  among  the  papers  of  the  Board  of  Trade, 
preserved  in  the  State  Paper  Office  in  London,  is  a  letter  from  Gov.  Hunter,  dated  New  York, 
Oct.  10,  1 7 15,  expressing  the  hope  that  Phillips  may  be  appointed  Commissary  of  the  Bishop 
of  London  for  Pennsylvania.      Vide  Stevens's  Analytical  Index  to  the  N.  J.  Col.  Documents,  p. 

95- 

P.    120. 

A  brief  account  of  Dr.  Evans's  ministry  at  Oxford  is  to  be  found  in  Dr.  Buchanan's  His- 
torical Sketch  of  Trinity  Church,  Oxford,  pp.  18,  19. 

Pp.    121,  122. 

References  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Halliday's  labors  in  New  Jersey  are  to  be  found  in  White- 
head's Contributions  to  East  Jersey  History,  pp.  216,  217,  390,  408;  in  Dr.  Samuel  A.  Clark's 
Hist,  of  St.  John's,  Elizabeth,  pp.  37-47  ;  in  Berrian's  Hist,  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York, 
p.  335  ;  in  the  New  York  Colonial  Documents,  V.  pp.  338,  354,  and  in  the  volume  of  New 
York  MSS. 

Pp.    123,  124. 

The  services  of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Andreas  Hesselius  and  Abraham  Leidenius  are  noticed  in 
the  Abstracts  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Venerable  Society  for  1720-21,  1721-22,  1722-23, 
1723-24.  Frequent  references  to  these  gentlemen  will  be  found  in  Dr.  Clay's  Annals  of 
the  Swedes'.  A  notice  of  the  former  will  be  found  in  Ferris's  Original  Settlements  on  the  Del- 
aware, pp.  1 79-18 1. 


5H 

P.  124. 

The  Rev.  John  Vicary,  who  had  been  appointed  to  the  rectorship  of  Christ  Church,  Phila- 
delphia, by  the  Bishop  of  London,  presented  his  license  to  the  Vestry  on  the  4th  of  September, 
1719,  and  immediately  entered  upon  his  charge.  Failing  health  soon  compelled  him  to  seek 
the  aid  of  the  neighboring  clergy,  and  in  1722  he  ceased  to  officiate;  dying,  it  would  appear, 
late  that  year,  or  early  in  1723.  Brief  notices  of  him  will  be  found  in  Dr.  Dorr's  History  of 
Christ  Church,  pp.  48,  50,  51,  281  ;  in  Anderson's  Col.  Church,  III.  p.  269,  and  in  Westcott's 
History  of  Philadelphia,  chap,  lxxiv. 

The  Rev.  Robert  Weyman  is  spoken  of  by  Dr.  Buchanan,  in  his  Historical  Sketch  of 
Oxford  parish,  as  "a  person  of  great  worth  and  very  diligent  in  the  discharge  of  his  ministerial 
duties."  Appointed  by  the  Ven.  Society  to  Oxford  and  Radnor  in  1718,  he  arrived  in  the 
Province  on  the  19"1  of  December,  1719,  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  cure  on  the  following 
Sunday,  retaining  the  incumbency  until  1732.  References  to  him  are  to  be  found  in  the  Coll. 
of  the  Prot.  Epis.  Hist.  Soc.  I.  p.  96;  in  Anderson's  Col.  Church,  III.  pp.  252,  253,  261 ;  in 
Thomas's  Hist,  of  Printing,  II.  p.  104;  in  Buchanan's  Hist.  Sketch  of  Trinity  Church,  Oxford, 
Philadelphia,  pp.  20-23 

P.    124. 

The  Rev.  William  Skinner  was  a  Mac  Gregor,  and  among  the  members  of  the  clan  pro- 
scribed after  the  rebellion  of  1 715.  Forced  to  leave  Scotland  after  the  battle  of  Preston  Pans, 
where  he  had  received  a  wound,  and  assuming  for  safety  the  name  of  a  friend  at  Edinburgh,  who 
had  afforded  him  favor  and  protection,  he  found  his  way  to  Philadelphia,  after  a  brief  sojourn  in 
Holland,  and  subsequently  in  Barbadoes  or  Antigua,  and  became  an  inmate  of  the  family  of  the 
celebrated  James  Logan,  whose  sons,  in  common  with  other  youth,  he  instructed  in  the 
languages,  while  preparing  himself  for  admission  to  Holy  Orders.  He  is  supposed  to  have  been 
a  graduate,  or  at  least  a  scholar,  at  Oxford  in  his  earlier  days,  and  the  Rev.  John  Talbot,  when 
advocating  the  establishment  of  a  free  school  or  college  at  Burlington,  mentions  that  "several 
of  Mr.  Skinner's  scholars  at  Philadelphia,  are  fit  for  the  Academy."  Returning  to  England  in 
1722,  for  Orders,  he  was  appointed  missionary  at  Perth  Amboy  by  the  Venerable  Society,  and 
entered  upon  his  labors  in  September,  1723.  Here  he  continued  in  the  abundant  exercise  of  his 
ministry  till  his  death  in  1758,  in  the  71st  year  of  his  age.  His  descendants  occupy  a  prominent 
position  among  the  scenes  of  their  ancestor's  life  and  services.  Reference  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Skinner  will  be  found  in  Whitehead's  interesting  Contributions  to  East  Jersey  History,  from 
which  this  sketch  is  condensed,  pp.  83,  94,  99-101,  133,  213,  221,  222,  224,  408,  409  ;  and 
in  Stevens's  Analytical  Index  to  the  New  Jersey  Colonial  Documents  (edited  by  Mr.  White- 
head), pp.  148,  182,  340,  343. 

Pp.  124,  125,  126. 

The  Rev.  William  Becket's  work  at  Lewes  is  mentioned  somewhat  in  detail  in  Humphrey's 
Historical  Account  of  the  Venerable  Society,  as  well  as  in  the  successive  Abstracts  of  the  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  Society  from  1720-21,  during  the  period  of  his  incumbency.  He  will  receive 
fuller  notice  in  connection  with  the  volume  of  Delaware  papers. 


5*5 

P.  125. 

The  Rev.  William  Harrison  was  appointed  the  missionary  of  the  Venerable  Society  at 
Richmond,  Staten  Island.  Vide  Abstracts  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Society,  &c,  1720-21  ; 
1721-22  ;  Collect.  Prot.  Epis.  Hist.  Soc.  I.  126;  Clark's  Hist,  of  St.  John's,  Elizabeth,  pp. 
52,  53- 

The  Rev.  Jonas  Lidman  was  sent  over  from  Sweden  to  minister  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1719, 
and  was  recalled  in  1730.      Vide  Clay's  Annals  of  the  Swedes,  p.  172. 

The  blank  in  the  MS.  is  to  be  filled  with  the  name  of  John  Urmston,  whose  miserable  life 
and  shocking  end  (he  was  burned  to  death),  are  noticed  in  Dr.  Hawks's  History  of  North 
Carolina,  II.  127,  214,  215,  292,  330-332,  333,  334,  351-353,  360,  372,  383-386;  in  Ander- 
son's Col.  Church,  III.  269,  270,  489,  491  ;  in  the  Collec.  of  the  Prot.  Epis.  Hist.  Society,  I. 
89-93  J  m  tne  Maryland  Dioc.  Conv.  Journal,  i860,  pp.  113,  114,  and  in  the  Md.  MSS.  Dr.  Dorr 
in  his  Hist,  of  Christ  Church,  gives  the  proceedings  of  the  Vestry  in  consequence  of  his  re- 
moval, pp.  51,  52. 

P.    136. 

The  story  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Robert  Welton's  brief  career  in  Philadelphia,  beyond  what 
appears  in  these  pages,  will  be  found  in  an  article  on  "the  Non-juring  Episcopate  in  the  United 
States,"  prepared  by  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Franklin,  for  many  years  the  Secretary  of  the  Histori- 
cal Society  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  published  in  the  first  volume  of  the  col- 
lections of  the  Society,  pp.  87-98. 

The  following  extract  from  the  "  Reliquise  Hernianse,"  II.  p.  257,  will  add  somewhat  to  Mr. 
Franklin's  able  and  wellnigh  exhaustive  sketch: 

Lisbon,  Aug.  31,  1726,  N.  S. 

One  Wilton  a  non-juring  clergyman,  who  some  time  ago  arrived  here  from  Philadelphia, 
died  of  a  dropsy,  refusing  to  commune  with  the  English  clergyman. 

After  his  death  among  his  things  were  found  an  episcopal  seal  which  he  had  made  use  of 
in  Pensilvania,  whereas,  he  assumed  &  exercised  privily  &  by  stealth  the  character  &  functions 
of  a  Bishop.  This  coming  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Privy  Council  he  was  ordered  home  but 
came  to  Portugal. 

N.  B.  [by  Hearne.]  This  is  the  famous  Dr.  Welton,  minister  at  White  Chappel,  who  suf- 
fered much  for  his  honesty  (Jacobitism)  &  was,  it  seems,  a  Bishop,  &  is  now  removed  from  the 
malice  of  all  his  enemies. 

We  also  add,  from  the  original  draft,  in  the  handwriting  of  Peter  Evans,  Esq.  (of  whom 
we  have  had  mention  as  the  challenger  of  the  infamous  Phillips),  preserved  among  the  "Smith 
Papers"  in  the  Archives  of  the  General  Convention  of  the  Prot.  Epis.  Church,  the  following 
Memorial,  a  portion  of  which  appears  in  Mr.  Franklin's  article,  but  all  of  which  is  pertinent 
to  our  purpose : 


5i6 

To  the  R\  Honb,e  &  Right  Revd  Father  in  God  Edmond, 
Lord  Bp.  of  London,  &  one  of  [His]  MajtiC8  most  Honble 
Privy  Council. 

THE  MEMORIAL  OF  PETER  EVANS. 
Most  Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  yor  Memorialist  did  himself  the  Honr  in  Company  wth  Mr.  Pslew,  lately  to  wait  on 
yor  Ld'1'  &  had  abund'  reason  to  acknowledge  yor  Ld8ps  kind  reception  &  favr  not  only  in 
Promissing  your  assistance  to  determine  a  Matf  or  Difference  between  Sr  Wm  Keith  Deputy 
Gov'  of  Pennsylvania  &  the  Collr  of  his  majlies  customs  there.  But  more  Especially  for  yor 
Ldsp's  goodness  in  communicating  yor  tho18  concerning  y°  Church  &  Vestry  of  Philad"  of  wcb 
Vestry,  yor  Ldsp  had  received  some  disagreable  acco'.  Yor  Mem'st  as  one  (tho'  unworthy)  of 
the  Members  of  ye  sd  Vestry  humbly  begs  leave  to  give  yor  Ldp  a  true  information  of  y"  sd 
Vestry's  Conduct  towards  Dr.  Welton,  who  at  his  arrival  there  abo'  June  1724,  was  a  Strangr  & 
his  coming  altogether  unknown  to  every  [one]  of  them.  The  Circumstances  of  the  Church  there 
being  not  a  little  malancholy  at  y'  time,  for  y'  being  destitute  of  a  Minister,  no  Divine  Service 
had  been  ^formed  there  for  some  Months  before,  and  a  numerous  Congregaceon,  wch  if  kept 
together,  were  not  only  able  but  willing  to  raise  a  handsome  support  for  a  minrv  wcb  was  dayly 
expected  from  yor  Ldp.  But  the  Church  Doors  being  shut  it  was  Evident  yc  Congregaceon 
would  soon  dwindle  &  be  captivated,  among  ye  many  dissenting  Teachers  in  yc  Growing  Citty 
&  render  them  unable  to  ^form  their  ^misses  to  yor  Ldp.  To  pcvent  wch  inconveniences  sev 
members  of  the  Vestry  met,  &  being  well  assured  py  some  ^sons  of  the  Drs.  acquaintances,  y' 
he  was  esteemed  an  Orthodox  Minister  &  it  appearing  by  sev1  English  printed  news  papers,  yl 
ye  Dr.  had  then  lately  taken  ye  Oaths  &  conformed  to  the  Gov"',  but  had  been  deprived  of  his 
living.  Sev1  members  of  the  Vestry  asked  y°  Dr.  to  officiate  untill  such  time  as  they  were  favrd 
wlh  a  minisf  from  yor  Ldp  wcb  he  readily  granted  &  yc  Church  doors  were  opened,  &  for  y'  rea- 
son &  from  ye  characf  of  y°  Dr3.  preaching  the  Congregaceon  resolved  to  hear  him. 

Yor  Memorialist  hopes  yor  Ldp  will  be  induc'd  to  believe  their  zeal  for  the  Church  (&  not 
for  any  mistaken  principles  of  y°  Drs)  were  the  true  Cause  of  their  frequenting  yc  Church. 
Yor  Memorialist  from  his  knowledge  of  &  acquaintance  w'b  yc  people  there  for  22  yrs  past,  does 
believe  it  a  piece  of  Injustice  to  insinuate  them  as  disaffected  to  her  Maj''e  for  yor  Memor51  well 
knows  yl  Every  Member  of  yc  Vestry  &  all  others  of  the  Congregaceon  to  whom  it  was  tendered 
have  Conformed  to  the  Laws  &  given  all  yc  proofs  of  yir  Loyalty  to  his  Maj,ie  that's  in  their  power. 

But  for  his  and  their  Defence  agst  y6  Informaceons  of  Sr  W'"  Keith  yor  Memost  begs  leave 
(and  he  hopes  in  Case  of  Self  Defence  &  pcservacon  he  may  be  allowed)  to  observe  to  yor 
Lord1'  that  Sr  Wm  Keith  has  not  been  so  happy  in  his  Conduct  or  sincere  in  his  relations  as  to 
require  undoubted  Credit  as  appears  from  the  following  Paragraph  (taken  out  of  ye  L'ds  Pro- 
ceedings agst  him  for  being  concerned  in  y"  Scotish  Conspiracy,  An  :  1703)  viz'  "  It  is  declared 
"by  ye  L'ds  Spiritual  &  Temporal  in  parlim'  assembled  That  Mr.  Wm  Keith  (upon  his  Exami- 
"  nation  by  yeL'ds  appointed  to  Examine  him  by  this  House)  hath  ^varicated  w"1  this  House  & 
"  by  his  Behaviour  does  not  seem  an  Object  worthy  of  his  Majesty's  Mercy." 

Yor  Mem"'  humbly  begs  leave  further  to  observe  to  yor  Ldp  in  Vindication  of  himself  and  y° 
sd  Vestry  :  That  ye  sd  Sr  Wm  had  for  some  years  been  elected  membr  of  ye  sd  Vestry  but  taking 


5i7 

upon  him  to  Overrule  them  &  entirely  depriving  them  of  the  freedom  justly  due,  he  was  left  out 
of  the  Vestry,  in  y'  time  of  Mr.  Vicary  yc  last  Settled  Minisf*  amongst  us  from  yr  Ldp's  ^de- 
cess"  wch  was  abo'  3  years  ago  &  from  that  time  seemed  displeased  w,h  the  Vestry  &  withdrew 
his  Subscription  from  Mr.  Vicary  to  whom  the  Vestry  showed  all  due  regard,  but  for  his 
health  he  left  Pennsylvania  &  came  for  England  where  about  2  Years  ago  he  dyed  &  his  family 
which  he  left  behind  him  (wch  are  now  in  England)  will  testify  ye  kind  usage  he  &  they  received 
from  ye  Vestry  Especially  from  the  Collr  whose  Character  is  so  well  known  to  many  ^sons  of 
honr  &  Reputaceon  here  as  well  as  in  America  to  be  altogether  consistent  w'h  his  Duty  to  her 
Maj'ie.  Yet  Sr  Wm  had  in  a  ^ticular  manner  traduced  it  but  wthout  ye  least  Colour  of  Proof  save 
his  base  allegasion  &  all  ^ceeding  from  ye  Difference  between  him  &  ye  Collr  abo'  sd  seiz- 
ure. 

Yor  Mem"  also  begs  Leave  to  take  notice  of  Mr  Urmston's  Information  to  yor  Ldp.  It  is 
true  Mr  Urmston  did  serve  the  Church  at  Philad"  but  was  not  sent  from  yC  Ldp  or  yor  ^deces- 
sor.  But  yc  misfortune  that  drove  him  from  Carolina  &  other  places  still  attended  him  &  his 
behaviour  became  such  at  Philad"  as  is  not  ^per  to  be  mensioned  or  allowed  in  any  Sober 
Society  wcU  obliged  ye  Vestry  to  Dismiss  him  &  y°  sev1  ^sons  he  complains  were  unkindly  used 
by  yc  Vestry  were  of  yc  like  Circumstances  &  Character  for  wch  reasons  removed  from  thence. 

But  yor  Memst  does  affirm  that  he  never  knew  any  unkindness  or  ill  usage  shewed  to  or 
Complained  of  by  any  of  ye  Missies  sent  to  the  Church  at  Philad"  by  any  of  yor  Ldsp's  ^de- 
cess".  And  he  begs  leave  to  assure  yor  Lordsp  that  he  doubts  not  but  ye  Missionary  whom  yor 
Ldp  shall  please  to  send  to  that  Church,  will  have  Just  ground  to  Convince  yor  Ldp  that  ye 
Vestry  &  Congregation  of  that  Church  are  not  only  true  and  Loyal  subjects  to  his  Maj"e  but  are 
Sincere  well  wishers  &  hearty  Members  of  the  Church  of  England  as  by  Law  Established  & 
hereby  not  only  express  their  duty  and  gratitude  to  yor  Ldp  but  also  intitle  them  to  yor  Ldp's 
favour  &  Benediction. 

And  yor  Memorialist  hopes  &  humbly  begs  yor  Ldp  will  please  to  be  a  means  to  induce  his 
Majesty  to  renew  the  bounty  of  50^  ^  Ann.  to  the  Church  &  30^  to  ye  School  at  Philad"  w 
were  allowed  by  &  ceased  upon  ye  Demise  of  her  late  Majtie  Queen  Ann  towards  defraying  yc 
necessary  fees  of  wch  Grant  from  his  pcsent  Majlic,  Mr  Moore  ye  sd  Collr  has  sev1  years  since  dis- 
bursed above. 

Your  Memst  further  begs  leave  to  remind  yor  Lordsp  That  there  has  been  raised  in  Pensil- 
vania  the  sum  of  2000^  that  Money  wch  is  Equivalent  to  1500^  sterls  towards  carrying  on  the 
Expediceon  agst  Canada  but  y'  Expedition  failing  before  ye  sd  Money  was  paid  to  the  Crown  use 
it  remaind  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer  of  that  province  until  Sr  Wm  (abl  9  years  ago)  came 
as  Deputy  Govr  there  and  then  he  demanded  &  received  the  same.  One  Moiety  was  paid  him 
in  Money  and  the  other  he  took  Lands  for  in  his  own  name  or  Trustees  for  his  use  &  which  he 
is  now  in  Possession  of.  The  Church  of  Philadelpa  is  become  ruinous  &  must  shortly  be  re- 
built which  without  Considerable  help  the  people  there  are  not  able  to  do.  Therefore  yor  Mem" 
in  behalf  of  the  sd  Congregacion  most  humbly  begs  yor  Ldps  intercession  for  ye  Vesting  the  sd 
Money  &  Lands  in  yor  Ldp  &  yor  Success"  for  the  use  of  the  sd  Church  ;  wch  being  ~{3fected 


*  Here,  and  once  before,  the  word  "  Minister,"  in  Col.  Evans's  handwriting,  is  stricken  out,  and  the  word  "  Mis- 
sionary" inserted,  in  another  hand,  and  with  a  different  ink. 


5i8 

will  be  an  Everlasting  Monum'  of  yor  Ldps  care  &  goodness  towards  that  distant  Congregation 
&  be  ever  acknowledged  by  them  as  a  Blessing  bestowed  on  them  by  yor  Ldp. 

And  yor  Mem"  as  in  Duty  bound  shall  ever  pray  for  yor  Ldp's  long  life  &  prosperity. 

P.  E. 

P.   145- 

The  name  of  "  Mr.  Whitmore  "  is  evidently  a  clerical  error  for  "Mr.  Weyman." 

P.   145. 

We  shall  find  frequent  allusions  to  the  Ministry  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cummins  in  the  pages  of 
this  volume.  Dr.  Dorr,  in  his  History  of  Christ  Church,  devotes  a  number  of  pages  to  him 
(pp.  57-73,  88,  282,  333).  His  obituary  is  contained  in  the  Collections  of  the  Penn.  Hist. 
Society,  I.  p.  358. 

P-   i55- 

The  Rev.  John  Holbrooke,  appointed  to  Salem,  New  Jersey  {vide  New  Jersey  MSS.),  after- 
wards removed  to  Virginia,  where  he  was  in  charge  of  Hungar's  parish,  Northampton  county, 
from  1729  to  1747.     Vide  Meade's  Old  Churches,  Ministers,  and  Families  of  Virginia,  I.  p.  258. 

P-  155- 
Dr.  Clay,  in  his  "Annals  of  the  Swedes,"  gives  the  name  of  this  Swedish  clergyman  as 
Andreas  Windrufwa.  Sent  over  from  Sweden  in  1726  with  the  Rev.  Petrus  Tranberg,  whose 
name  also  appears  attached  to  this  paper,  he  divided  the  care  of  the  churches  at  Racoon  and 
Penn's  Neck  with  his  colleague,  until  his  death  in  1728.  Tranberg  continued  until  1742  at 
this  station,  when  he  removed  to  Christina,  where  he  died  in  1748.  {Vide  Clay's  Annals,  pp. 
174-176.)  The  Rev.  Samuel  Hesselius  was  a  brother  of  Andrew  Hesselius.  He  returned  to 
Sweden  in  1731,  where  he  died  in  1735.      Vide  also  Ferris's  Settlements  on  the  Delaware. 

Pp-  157.  i58>  l6°- 
Frequent  references  to  the  Rev.  William  Machonochie  will  be  found  in  the  Maryland  MSS. 

Pp.  161,  162. 

The  Rev.  Richard  Backhouse  labored  at  Chester  until  his  decease,  on  the  19th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1749.  His  letters  appear  again  and  again  on  our  pages,  and  form  an  interesting  and 
valuable  contribution  to  the  annals  of  his  time.  An  extract  from  a  letter  of  this  worthy 
missionary  to  the  Society,  written  in  1742,  and  of  similar  import  with  the  opening  sentence  of 
this  communication,  is  printed  in  Dr.  Gadsden's  "Brief  Notices  "  prefacing  his  Essay  on  the 
Life  of  Bishop  Dehon.     Charleston,  1833.     P.  24. 

Pp.  161,  163. 

Conestoga,  or,  as  variously  written  in  these  papers,  Conastogoe,  or  Conostogoe,  was  the 
Indian  name  of  Lancaster. 


5i9 

P.  164. 

For  a  more  particular  notice  of  the  donation  of  the  "  Widow  Mallows,"  vide  Dr.  Buchan- 
an's Hist.  Sketch  of  the  Parish  of  Trinity  Church,  Oxford,  Phila.,  pp.  21,  22.  It  has  been 
earlier  referred  to  in  the  Rev.  Mr.  Weyman's  letters,  on  pp.  144  and  129;  in  the  latter  the 
MS.  reading  "  Fellows,"  an  evident  clerical  error. 

P.    166. 

The  Rev.  Walter  Hacket  appears  to  have  officiated  quietly  and  successfully  at  his  post,  the  only 
references  to  him  that  have  come  under  our  notice  other  than  those  this  volume  contains,  being 
the  allusions  to  his  settlement  found  in  Humphrey's  Hist.  Account,  p.  162  ;  in  Anderson's  Col. 
Ch.  III.  262;  in  Dr.  Dorr's  Christ  Church,  p.  420,  and  in  the  Society  abstracts.  An 
allusion  to  his  induction,  in  1733,  to  a  contiguous  parish  within  the  boundaries  of  Maryland,  is 
to  be  found  in  the  volume  of  Md.  MSS.,  with  the  reasons  for  this  step  on  the  part  of  Lord  Bal- 
timore, as  given  by  Commissary  Henderson. 

Pp.  1 73-1 76. 

The  marriage  laws  of  Pennsylvania  had  been  complained  of  by  the  Churchmen  in  the 
Province  as  early  as  1701.      Vide  Hazard's  Colonial  Records,  II.  pp.  26,  48,  49. 

Pp.  177,  178,  179. 

The  Rev.  Alexander  Howie  was  finally  appointed  to  Oxford  and  Whitemarsh,  entering 
upon  his  charge  on  St.  John's  Day,  June  24,  1733.  His  ministry  continued  for  the  space  of 
nine  years,  but  in  consequence  of  the  almost  entire  absence  of  parochial  records,  very  little  is 
known  of  his  labors,  save  the  references  in  our  pages.  In  1742  Mr.  Howie  left  for  the  West 
Indies,  expecting  to  return  in  a  few  months.  Nothing  further  appears  with  reference  to  him,  so 
far  as  our  knowledge  extends.  Dr.  Buchanan,  to  whose  interesting  "Sketch  of  Trinity  Church, 
Oxford,"  (p.  24),  we  are  indebted  for  most  of  the  details  respecting  Mr.  Howie  we  have 
given,  speaks  of  him  as  "a  conscientious,  careful,  and  good  man." 

P.  180. 

The  Rev.  John  Forbes  was  licensed  May  5,  1764,  for  St.  Augustine,  East  Florida  (Prot. 
Epis.  Hist.  Coll.  I.  p.  112),  and  is  referred  to  in  a  MS.  volume  written  by  John  Gerard  Wil- 
liams de  Bahm,  now  in  the  library  of  Harvard  College  in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  as  exercising  not 
only  his  clerical  character,  but  also  that  of  Judge  of  Admiralty  and  Councillor.  ( Vide  Fairbanks's 
History  and  Antiquities  of  St.  Augustine,  Florida.     8vo.    New  York,  1858.     Pp.  165.) 

The  Rev.  Alexander  Forbes  came  over  to  Virginia  in  1710,  and  was  officiating  there  in 
1724.  (Vide  Hist.  Coll.  Am.  Col.  Ch.  I.  pp.  295,  296,  323-334.)  It  is  of  course  impossible 
on  the  insufficient  data  furnished  by  this  reference  to  the  surname  only  in  Commissary  Cum- 
mings's  letter  to  determine  which  of  these  clergymen,  if  either,  is  meant. 


520 

Pp.  i84)  185. 

The  Rev.  Philip  Reading  was  licensed  for  Pennsylvania  as  a  Missionary  of  the  Venerable 
Society  on  the  7th  of  April,  1746.  {Vide  Prot.  Epis.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll.  I.  p.  117.)  In  1775,  he 
appears  to  have  been  the  incumbent  of  St.  Augustine's  parish,  Cecil  county,  on  the  eastern 
shore  of  Maryland.  {Vide  a  List  of  Clergy  and  Livings  in  Maryland,  1775,  Fulham  MSS., 
among  the  Md.  MSS.)  In  1777  he  is  recorded  as  "dead"  in  the  Fulham  Register.  He  is 
referred  to  in  Dorr's  Christ  Church,  pp.  124,  125,  and  in  Hawkins's  Missions  of  the  Ch.  of 
Eng.  pp.  3,  10,  11,  14. 

Pp.  185,  186. 

The  Rev.  "Thomas"  Thompson,  of  Chester,  of  whose  "bad  character"  testimony  was 
borne  at  a  convention  of  the  clergy  in  1760,  as  we  shall  subsequently  see,  must  not  be  confound- 
ed with  the  estimable  clergyman  of  the  same  name, — a  Fellow  of  Christ's  College,  Cambridge, 
— who,  after  five  years'  labor  at  Monmouth,  New  Jersey,  resigned  his  mission  there  to  undertake 
another  and  more  dangerous  field  of  labor  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  "out  of  pure  zeal  to  become 
a  missionary  in  the  cause  of  Christ."  Here  he  labored  from  1751  to  1756,  when  sickness  drove 
him  from  his  post.  The  missionary  at  Chester  appears  to  have  come  from  the  south,  a  clergy- 
man of  this  name  having  been  ordained  in  1730,  and  having  officiated  between  that  time  and 
1750  in  St.  Bartholomew's,  St.  George's,  Dorchester,  and  St.  John's,  Colleton,  in  South  Car- 
olina. {Vide  Dalcho's  Hist.  Ace.  of  the  Ch.  in  So.  Car.  pp.  349,  361,  368.)  It  is  but  just  to 
mention  that  this  clergyman's  character,  while  in  South  Carolina,  was  free  from  reproach.  In 
1762,  a  clergyman  of  this  name  officiated  in  Antrim  parish,  Virginia,  for  a  few  months,  and 
then  resigned  his  charge  in  consequence  of  his  age  and  the  extent  of  his  charge.  {Vide  Meade's 
Old  Churches,  Ministers,  and  Families  of  Virginia,  II.  p.  10.)  This  latter  Thomas  Thompson 
was  probably  the  Maryland  clergyman  of  that  name  who  was  incumbent  of  Dorchester  parish  in 
Maryland  from  1712  to  1730,  according  to  the  Md.  MSS.,  and  probably  longer,  and  who  must 
be  distinguished  from  either  of  the  above  Thompsons. 

P.    187. 

The  Rev.  Richard  Locke,  licensed  to  Virginia,  May  13,  1749  (vide  Coll.  of  the  Prot. 
Epis.  Hist.  Soc.  I.  p.  118),  and  who  had,  according  to  Sprague  (Annals- of  the  Am.  Epis. 
Pulpit,  p.  165,  note),  been  for  a  number  of  years  a  missionary  in  Pennsylvania,  was  appointed, 
while  in  England  in  1754,  to  the  mission  at  Lewes,  Delaware.  His  decease  occurred  shortly 
after. 

P.    187. 

Reference  to  the  Rev.  George  Craig  will  be  found  in  the  Prot.  Epis.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll.  I.  p. 
116;  Dr.  Chandler's  Life  of  President  Johnson  (English  ed.,  p.  186);  Dorr's  Christ  Church, 
pp.  124,  125,  and  Hawkins's  Missions  of  the  Ch.  of  Eng.  pp.  315,  396. 

P.    187. 
A  brief  sketch  of  the  life  of  the  Rev.   Hugh  Neill  will  be  found  in  a  note  to  p.  158  of 


521 

Sprague's  Annals  of  the  Am.  Epis.  pulpit.  Other  references  to  him  appear  in  Dr.  S.  A. 
Clark's  Hist,  of  the  Church  in  Elizabeth,  p.  119;  in  Bolton's  Westchester  Church,  p.  494;  in 
Hawkins's  Missions,  pp.  123,  323;  in  Anderson's  Col.  Ch.  III.  264-266;  in  the  Prot.  Epis. 
Hist.  Soc.  Coll.  I.  p.  117;  and  in  Dr.  Buchanan's  Hist.  Sketch  of  Trinity  Church,  Oxford,  pp. 
27-31.  The  Maryland  MSS.,  in  which  numerous  references  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Neill  occur,  serve 
to  correct  an  error  into  which  Dr.  Sprague,  or  his  informant,  has  fallen  in  dating  the  decease 
of  this  gentleman  in  October,  1766.  After  his  removal  from  Oxford,  which  took  place  at  this 
time,  he  officiated  for  a  while  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  Philadelphia,  and  was  laboring  in  St.  Paul's 
parish,  Queen  Ann's  County,  Maryland,  as  late  as  July,  1771. 

P.    188. 

Several  letters  from  the  Rev.  Arthur  Usher,  detailing  the  progress  of  his  mission  between 
the  years  1740  and  1752,  are  to  be  found  among  the  Delaware  MSS. 

P.  188. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Hughes  has  been  earlier  referred  to  {ante,  p.  181)  as  expected  by  the  con- 
gregation at  Radnor,  when  a  fellow-countryman  and  clergyman  of  the  same  name  was  lost  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Delaware.  We  find  a  brief  notice  of  this  clergyman  in  "  A  Sermon  Preached 
by  the  Rev.  Wm.  F.  Halsey,  at  St.  David's  (commonly  called  Radnor)  Church,  Delaware  Co 
Pa.,  Sept.  4th,  1867."  Phila.  1868,  8vo.,  pp.  35.  The  same,  or  another,  "Mr.  Hughes,"  was 
laboring  in  1767  as  "curate  or  probationer"  at  Worcester  parish,  Worcester  county,  Mary- 
land; and  in  1775  the  name  of  the  Rev.  Philip  Hughes,  D.D.,  is  given  as  incumbent  of  Great 
Choptank  parish,  Dorchester  County.  Dr.  Allen,  in  his  Notices  of  the  Maryland  clergy, 
(p.  7)  speaks  of  him  as  a  Tory,  and  as  returning  to  England  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war. 
This  gentleman  was  chaplain  of  the  44th  regiment  of  the  royal  army,  and  possibly  marched 
with  his  regiment  on  the  expedition  under  Gen.  Braddock.  {Vide  note  to  p.  377  of  "The  His- 
tory of  an  Expedition  Against  Fort  Du  Quesne  in  1775,  under  Major-General  Braddock.  Edi- 
ted by  Winthrop  Sargent."     Memoirs  of  the  Hist.  Soc.  of  Penna.  vol.  v.) 

P.    191. 
Of  the  Rev.  William  Lindsay  we  shall  find  further  reference  not  at  all  to  his  credit.     (  Vide 
post.  p.  460.) 

P.   193. 
The  several  letters  given  in  this  volume  from  the  Rev.  John  Pugh  furnish  all  the  information 
of  any  importance  respecting  him  in  our  possession. 

Pp.    198,  199. 
An  interesting  letter  from  Col.  Peter  Evans,  the  original  draft  of  which  is  preserved  among 
the  "Smith  MSS.  "  in  the  Archives  of  the  General  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  will  supplement  the  information  contained  in  this  letter  of  Mr.  Langhorne : 

.      2  Aug'  1737. 
Dear  Brother, 

A  very  unfortunate  Circumstance  attending  our  Church,   affecting  the  Revd  Mr.  Cumings 

66 


522 

whose  Character  equals  the  best  in  America,  will  I  doubt  not  attone  for  my  taking  up  some 
part  of  yr  time  in  relating  it.  The  preface  and  postscript  to  the  Inclosed  Sermon*  will  give 
you  a  short  sketch  of  it.  But  I  must  observe  to  you  that  the  Rev"  mentiond  who  made  the  best 
of  his  way  from  England  to  avoid  a  prosecution  for  having  two  wives,  was  bred  at  Leyden  as 
he  says,  &  servd  some  time  as  Clerk  to  Mr.  Booth ;  his  Father  is  Town  clerk  of  Liverpool. 
But  finding  his  Talent,  as  he  says,  lay  more  for  the  Gospel  than  the  Law  he  apply*  for  &  w° 
some  difficulty,  got  into,  Orders  by  the  late  Bp  of  Winchester,  7  years  ago,  much  a8"  the  will 
of  the  Dean. 

The  first  wife  he  marryd  was  in  London,  as  himselfe  owns  in  the  Fleet,  &  is  now  alive  & 
works  as  a  Charwoman  ab'  Westmr  from  whom  he  absented  &  went  down  to.  his  own  Country, 
and  as  he  says,  was  preferred  by  the  Earl  of  Derby  to  be  a  Tutor  to  some  children,  relations  of 
the  Earl.  He  soon  became  acquainted  wth  a  Sister  of  one  of  ye  young  Gent"  undr  his  Tuition  & 
married  her  but  the  news  of  his  haveing  another  wife  liveing,  the  mother  of  the  Latter  became 
justly  incensed  &  eager  for  his  prosecution  &  as  some  here  say,  he  was  too  busy  at  Election  w  h 
occasion"  some  of  the  adverse  party  who  knew  his  former  wife  to  send  for  her  down  wcb  made 
him  ffly  to  Bristol  to  his  Relation  who  is  A.  Hamilton's  f  wife,  &  so  here  where  by  the  influ- 
ence of  A.  Hamilton  his  Theatrical  or  after  the  manner  of  Harley's  delivery  he  rigled  himselfe 
into  the  affection  of  the  Multitude  who  have  been  generaly  bred  dissenters,  tho'  now  frequent- 
ers of  the  Church.  This  R.  P.  was  much  carress"  by  A.  H.,  and  Lodging  at  his  Colleague 
Clement  Plumsted,  a  Reputed  Quaker,  who  was  wth  him  Prosecuted  in  ye  high  Court  of  Chan- 
cery for  combining  to  defraud  a  widow  &  3  children  of  all  they  had  but  a  Decree  is  sence  past 
in  the  widow  &c's  favour,  wch  H.  stands  in  Contempt  of.  This  opportunity  suiting  A.  H.  who 
had  always  a  spight  ag'  Mr.  Cumings,  but  hitherto  could  not  find  means  to  give  him  Any  Dis- 
turbance. But  his  Kinsman  being  closely  attached  to  him  &  I  believe  of  As  loose  a  prin- 
ciple,— a  more  wicked  one  that  A.  H.  was  never  known — He  sets  his  Tongue  to  work  &  by  his 
Power  &  Influence  among  the  unthinking,  the  Congregation  is  rais'd  to  a  high  Pitch  of  Dis- 
traction in  which  way  it  is  the  aim  &  pleasure  of  A.  H.  to  perfect  his  work  of  dividing  all 
Societys.  The  Rev4  Mr.  Cumings  by  his  unblemishd  life,  Conduct  &  Doctrine,  haveing  justly 
gain4  the  Love  &  Esteem  of  mankind  in  general  here,  &  by  that  means  we  have  been  able 
always  to  keep  two  Members  of  our  Church  representatives  for  this  County  in  Legislation,  a 
great  mortification  to  that  Monster,  whose  aims  are  more  arbitrary  &  his  villanies  more  flagrant 
&  numerous  than  any  one  person  in  his  Majte3  Dominions  or^haps  heard  of  in  the  world.  Yet 
he  has  had  the  fortune  by  wiles  &  Strategems  to  get  all  the  places  of  power  &  profit  into  his 
hands  &  thereby  rides J  here  and  the  Chief  Bulwark  that  stood  in  his  Way 

*A  copy  of  this  tract  is  to  be  found  in  the  Loganian  Library,  Philadelphia,  and  is  entitled,  "The  Two  Last 
Sermons  Preached  at  Christ's  Church,  in  Philadelphia,  July  3,  1737,  By  Richard  Peters.  40.  Philadelphia: 
Printed  and  Sold  by  B.  Franklin,  M,DCC,XXXVII."  The  Preface  (xxii.  pages)  contains  an  account  of  Mr. 
Peters's  dispute  with  Mr.  Cummings. 

f  Andrew  Hamilton,  esquire,  was  an  eminent  lawyer  of  Philadelphia,  Speaker  of  the  Assembly,  and  also 
Attorney  General.  [Vide  Proud's  Hist,  of  Penna,  II.  pp.  216-219;  Allen's  Biog.  Dictionary;  Hazard's  Col. 
Records,  and  Penna.  Archives.)  Clement  Plumsted  was  a  member  of  the  Council,  and  a  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
(  Vide  Col.  Rec.  III.  28,  269.) 

J  The  MS.  is  illegible  here. 


523 

was  the  united  Body  of  the  Church.  To  pleasure  him  &  his  Kinsman,  several,  I  think  unworthy, 
Members  of  the  Church,  who  are  pleased  to  stile  themselv  Vestrymen,  tho'  wlbout  Minister  or 
Church  Wardens  have  lately  been  by  incessant  importunities  of  this  Peters  first  met  together 
incognito  to  Mr.  Cumings  at  a  public  house,  afterwards,  26  July,  met  at  Church  and  desired  Mr. 
Cumming's  presence  in  Order  to  give  a  Character  to  Peters,  how  mannerly  you  will  best  judge 
from  the  Usage  mentioned  in  the  preface,  but  Mr.  Cummings  did  not  meet  them.  I  having 
been  out  of  order  for  some  time,  did  not  intend  to  be  wtb  them,  therefore  wrote  as  I  tho' 
proper  to  prevent  if  I  could  our  rendering  ourselves  liable  to  the  Bp's  displeasure  of  woh  I  here 
enclose  a  Copy.  But  I  was  ^swaded  by  Mr.  Cummins  ffriends  after  ye  subject  matter  of  the  In- 
closed was  oft  read  to  go  to  them  where  notwithstanding  my  Endeavours  to  demonstrate  to  them 
the  unreasonableness  of  shewing  ourselves  prejudiced  in  favour  of  one  who  had  been  the  Cause 
of  so  much  disturbance  among  the  Congregation  and  had  so  treated  the  Commissry,  whose 
Character  &  Conduct  was  unexceptionable  &  such  as  we  were  in  best  Conscience  &  gratitude 
obliged  to  stand  by  yet  the  Majority  then  ^sent  have  determined  to  Address  the  Bp  in  favor  of 
Peters,  worded  doubtless  by  himselfe  wch  ^phaps  will  come  to  yr  view.  This  being  done,  I 
believe  from  this  sanguine  disposition  they  are  of,  entirely  influenced  by  A.  H.  who  professes 
neither  the  Christian  nor  any  other  Religion,  yet  ^haps  by  his  Influence  they  will  force  Mr. 
Cumings  out  and  Peters  into  the  pulpit,  I  heartily  wish  I  may  be  mistaken.  We  have  no  Govr 
here  at  f^sent  or  friend  but  J.  Logan,  a  Quaker,  who  is  intirely  at  Hamilton's  Beck  &  a  patron 
of  R.  Peters  who  has  often  waited  on  him  to  Country  Quaker  Meetings  &  with  his  hat  on 
slouching  sat  as  mute  as  any  Quaker  there. 

As  doubtless  you  have  an  Interest  wth  my  Lord  of  London,  you  will  be  so  kind  as  to  for- 
ward his  Lordp  in  repairing  the  Breach  wch  this  Refugee  has  occasion4  among  us  wch  would  be 
most  effectually  and  best  done  if  his  Ldp  would  appoint  a  Missionary  to  assist  Mr.  Cummings  at 
Philada  and  take  such  measures  wth  Peters  &  to  cheque  these  Insolences  as  his  Ldp  thinks  most 
proper.  We  hear  that  Coll  Thomas  is  comeing  Govr.  He  has  been  here  and  well  knows  & 
has  a  just  Esteem  [for]  Mr.  Cumings,  frequented  the  Church  &  generously  contributed  towards 
its  Building.     He  will  doubtless  pay  the  utmost  regard  to  his  Ldp's  Direction. 

You  have  herewlh  a  paper  in  nature  of  a  protest  w0"  among  others,  I've  signd.  You'l 
Excuse  the  wording,  it  being  done  in  very  great  hast.     You  have  a  List  of  the  Vestrymen, 

consisting  of .     This  number  was  increast  upon  Ace'  of  our  Building,   that  upon  any 

urgent  Occasion  a  sum  of  money  may  be  raisd  imediately.  You'l  see  who  are  Qualified  &  find 
the  Majority  ag'  the  Address.  But  the  Signers  are  hurried  on  by  this  Peters  as  you  find  by  a 
Letter  of  his  own  handwriting  sent  to  one  of  them  at  the  Last  Meeting  &  his  Endeavouring  to 
raise  a  Mob  but  was  Luckily  Prevented.  I  doubt  not  but  he  will,  as  he's  used  in  other  Cases, 
Deny  the  Contents  of  this  Letter,  therefore  if  it's  not  required  to  be  left  wth  his  Ldp  pray 
return  it — his  Ldp  will  know  this  to  be  his  hand  by  comparing  it  wtb  his  Letters. 
To  D\  Moore. 

The  following  is  the  "Address"  referred  to,  as  read  to  the  vestry  by  Col.  Evans  on  the 
26th  of  July,  1737,  and  enclosed  in  the  above  letter  to  Dr.  Moore  : 

I  am  of  Opinion  that  the  matters  now  in  dispute  among  the  members  of  this  Congrega- 


524 

tion  would  not  be  carry'd  on  wth  that  heat  &  warmth  were  these  two  points  duly  weigh'd  & 
maturely  considered,     viz : 

(i.)  The  good  Effects  of  peace  &  Unity  j  [n  Society 

(2.)  The  Bad  Consequences  of  Division,  Discord  &  Distraction  J 

The  first  of  these  is  always  attended  wth  true  Religion  &  virtue  and  is  the  foremost  Basis 
on  wchg  Religion  &  Society  can  Subsist. 

The  other  is  the  Bane  of  Religion  &  Destruction  of  Society.  The  Canons  of  our  Church 
for  securing  the  former  and  preventing  the  latter  have  provided  that  no  Clashing  in  Doctrine  be 
Emitted  in  the  Church. 

We  have  all  the  Honr  of  being  stiled,  and  I  heartily  wish  we  were  all  worthy  Members  of 
the  Church  of  England  and  I  may  say  we  have  a  Blessing  therein.  If  not  thro'  our  unguarded 
rash  Conduct  we  pervert  the  Sense  of  the  wholesome  Instruction  there  given,  (for  the  best 
Constitution  corrupted  becomes  the  worst). 

We  cannot  be  said  to  have  a  Religious  regard  to  the  Doctrine  &  principles  of  the  Church, 
If  we  disregard  its  Discipline  &  Gov'  wch  is  Episcopal.  For  it's  as  absurd  to  suppose  a  Church 
of  England  by  Law  Establish'd  (as  is  ours)  independent  of  a  Bishop,  as  that  of  Monarchy  without 
a  King. 

The  King  as  Supreem  head  has  by  his  Comissy  under  the  Great  Seal,  duely  appointed  the 
Bp  of  London  (to  whose  Diocess  all  his  Majties  Dominons  in  America  are  annex'd)  to  Exercise 
by  his  Commissi,  all  powers  Ecclesiasticall  respecting  the  Clergy  there,  wch  power  as  to  this 
Province  &  Country  amidst,  is  now  duely  vested  in  the  Revd  Mr.  Cummings  under  whose 
Conduct  &  Care  this  Church  has  subsisted  for  ten  years  past  in  as  much  peace  unity  and  Con- 
cord, ye  Effects  of  wch  appears  about  us,  &  in  as  good  reputation  for  Order  &  Decency  as  any 
Church  in  America.  I  wish  no  unreasonable  prejudices  or  passions  may  hurry  any  of  us  into 
actions  that  may  justly  call  our  sincerity  in  Question.  As  for  Mr.  Cummings  I  think  his  Char- 
acter has  remained  unspotted  until  a  late  public  charge  agl  him  of  haveing  delivered  from  the 
Pulpit  Doctrines  inconsistent  wlh  his  ffunction.  As  this  is  a  matter  of  great  Consequence  to  him 
(not  cogniz"  here)  it  is  not  to  be  doubted  but,  in  his  own  Defence,  he  will  take  prudent  Meas- 
ures for  his  Vindication  as  in  Justice  to  himselfe  &  the  Congregacion  he  presides  over,  he  ought 
to  do.  I  cannot  consider  of  the  mutual  good  harmony  that  Subsisted  between  him  and  his 
Congregacion  for  so  many  years  but  believe  they  will  readily  approve  of  his  conduct  therein. 
Especially  when  I  am  told  that  his  Accuser  has  been  by  some  of  his  warmest  ffriends  entreated 
not  to  deliver  that  Last  Discourse  he  made  from  ye  pulpit.  I  heartily  wish,  for  his  sake,  he  had 
taken  his  ffriend's  advise,  and  not  quitted  the  service  of  the  Church  so  abruptly  &  unadvisedly. 

As  I  am  not  ignorant  of  the  Character  the  Congregacion  of  this  Church  bore  before  Mr. 
Cummins  came  amongst  us  &  by  his  unblemish*  life  and  good  conduct,  rescued  us  from  this 
Imputation  of  being  unsteddy  in  our  Conduct,  &  undutiful  in  our  behaviour,  tow4*  our  Mission- 
aries. So  I  cannot  but  most  earnestly  wish  we  may  seriously  consider  the  Canonical  relation  we 
bear  to  the  Bp.  &  his  Mission"  and  not  enter  into  fruitless  Disputes  &  Clashings  wch  will  inev- 
itably hurt  our  Character  and  thereby  instead  of  giveing  encouragemen1  to  have  a  dignify'd  or 
worthy  missionary  to  preside  over  us,  His  Lordp  may  be  again  ^vok'd  to  say  (as  once  he 
did)  That  he  cannot  in  Conscience  send  a  Clergyman  Among  such  a  troublesome  set  of  men. 


525 

But  as  we  now  stand  fairly  in  his  good  Opinion,  We  ought  in  prudence  to  cultivate  the  same 
&  by  all  means  avoid  every  occasion  that  may  subject  us  to  his  Censure,  knowing  that  he  is  not 
only  capable  but  willing  while  we  deserve  it,  to  protect  us  &  do  very  considerable  services  for 
us.  And  that  without  him,  the  Church  cannot  be  supply'd.  But  above  All  we  ought  as  Chris- 
tians, inviolably  to  observe  our  Duty  to  our  Superiors. 

And  by  all  means  reject  wth  just  abhorrence  All  passions  &  prejudices  that  tend  to  Annoy 
the  peace  Love  and  unity  of  our  Religious  Society. 

Pet.  Evans. 

Endorsed  "At  a  Meeting  of  some  Vestrymen, 

July  26,  1737." 

Further  documents  accompany  this  letter  and  "  Address,  "  as  follows  : 
We  whose  names  are  underwritten,  Do  hereby  declare  and  are  ready  to  attest  in  the  most 
solemn  [manner]  That  on  the  third  day  of  this  Instant  July  in  the  afternoon  being  Sunday  we 
were  at  Christ  Church  in  Philad"  &  then  &  there  heard  Mr.  Richd  Peters  preach  and  towards 
the  later  part  of  his  Sermon  the  sd  Peters  signify4  that  that  was  the  last  time  he  intended  to 
Officiate  in  that  Church,  because  of  some  offence  given,  as  we  took  it  he  meant  from  the  Revd. 
Mr.  Cummings  for  he  sd  that  altho  he  thought  all  matters  were  composed  in  the  late  Vestry 
yet  he  found  otherwise  &  sd  "  by  Sermons  from  hence,"  the  pulpit  meaning,  "  lately  preach'd  of 
wca  you,"  pointing  to  ye  Congregation  "are  Judges  as  well  as  myselfe  but  I  shall  draw  a  Veil 
over  them."  [Signed]         Jn°  Kearsley, 

Peter  Evans. 

J.  Kearsley  of  Philada  practitioner  in  Physic  Do  hereby  Declare  and  am  ready  to  depose 
upon  Oath  if  required,  That  on  the  Seventeenth  day  of  this  Instant  July  I  was  at  the  House  of 
the  Revd  Mr.  Cumings  at  Philada  &  saw  Mr.  Richard  Peters  together  wth  two  or  three  Gent" 
come  in  to  the  sd  House  and  after  some  discourse  had  ab'  the  difference  subsisting  between  the 
sd  Mr.  Cumings  and  Mr.  Peters,  He  the  sd  Mr.  Peters  wtnout  any  Just  provocation  or  previous 
Discourse  tending  to  alleviate  or  alter  the  sense  of  the  words,  did  in  an  angry  manner  address 
himself  to  Mr.  Cumings  in  hac  verba  What  are  you  ?  what  are  you  here  more  than  any  other, 
You  are  no  Rector.     This  is  no  Parish.     The  Bishop's  Letter  to  you  is  a  good  License  to  me. 

[Signed]         Jn°  Kearsley. 

PROTEST. 

Whereas  divers  persons  nominated  Vestrymen  of  Christ  Church  in  Philadelphia  on  the 
Twenty  second  Instant,  at  the  Instance  and  procuration  of  M\  Richard  Peters  having  Conven'd 
at  a  Tavern  in  Philadelphia  and  there,  without  the  consent  privity  or  knowledge  of  the  Revd 
Mr.  Cummings  Minister  of  the  said  Church  &  Commiss'y  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  & 
Territories,  as  he  informs,  or  of  any  of  us,  did  Consult  upon  and  Agree  to  an  Address  to  be 
made  to  my  Lord  Bishop  of  London  in  favor  of  the  said  Mr.  Peters — 

That  in  pursuance  of  the  said  Consultation  &  Agreement  the  said  Conven'd  persons  met 
at  the  said  Church  on  the  Twenty  Sixth  Instant  and  then  &  there,  without  the  presence  or 
Consent  of  the  said  Commiss'y  or  the  Elder  Church  Warden  or  any  of  us,  did  stile  themselves 
a  Vestry  &  appoint  a  Committee  to  draw  an  Address  persuant  to  the  said  Agreement  and 


526 

directed  the  same  to  be  laid  before  them  on  the  Twenty  Eighth  Instant  to  which  time  they 
adjourned, — 

That  on  the  Twenty  Eighth  Instant,  the  said  Conven'd  persons  and  several  Members  of 
the  Vestry  of  the  said  Church,  met  in  the  said  Church,  without  the  presence,  Consent  or  Ap- 
probation of  the  said  Commiss'y,  At  which  meeting,  a  paper  containing  an  Address  to  my  Lord 
Bishop  of  London,  was  read — upon  which  a  Member  of  the  Vestry  moved  that  A  Copy  of  the 
said  Address  may  be  had  for  Mr.  Cummings's  perusal  before  the  same  be  Assented  to,  and  that 
He  may  have  time  to  Offer  his  Reasons  for  or  against  the  same,  but  the  motion  was  rejected. 
Whereupon  several  members  of  the  Vestry  aforesaid  Objected  to  the  signing  the  said  Address 
for  several  reasons.  First  for  the  irregularity  of  the  Convention.  Secondly  for  that  it  suggests 
that  sufficient  reasons  Appeared  for  Mr.  Peters's  declining  the  service  of  the  said  Church  as  he 
has  done  when  in  truth  no  such  reasons  were  produced  or  assigned  to  the  knowledge  of  the  said 
Members.  Thirdly  for  that  it  sets  forth  that  several  Dissenters  were  drawn  or  Converted  to  the 
Church  by  means  of  Mr.  Peters  which  Fact,  We  the  said  Members  have  no  room  to  believe  is 
true.  Fourthly  for  that  it  affirms  that  the  said  Mr.  Peters  has  altogether  well  behaved  while  He 
Officiated  in  the  Church  at  Philadelphia  The  truth  of  which  we  have  Reason  to  doubt  of  from 
what  we  have  seen  &  heard  &  is  Represented  against  him  to  my  Lord  Bishop  of  London  by  the 
Revd  Commiss'y.  Fifthly  that  such  Address  tends  to  reflect  on  and  unjustly  to  oppose  the 
Revd  Mr.  Cummins.  And  upon  the  said  Conven'd  persons  warmly  pressing  to  have  The 
Address  Immediately  signed,  it  was  by  a  Member  of  said  Vestry  proposed  and  insisted  on  that 
none  should  sign  any  Address  as  a  Vestryman  but  such  as  were  Communicants  of  said  Church 
according  to  the  Constitution  and  standing  Order  of  said  Vestry  and  pray'd  that  a  Scrutiny 
therein  might  be  made,  before  any  Thing  be  signed  under  Colour  or  in  the  Name  of  a  Vestry. 
But  this  was  rejected  by  the  persons  who  first  Conven'd  and  Contrived  the  said  Address,  arid 
they  proceeded  notwithstanding,  to  sign  the  said  Address.  Wherefore  We  the  subscribers 
being  Ancient  Members  of  the  said  Church  &  Vestry  &  frequent  Partakers  of  the  Holy  Com- 
munion therein,  out  of  a  due  regard  to  the  welfare  &  happiness  of  the  said  Church  &  in  consid- 
eration of  the  peace  Unity  &  flourishing  Condition  it  has  subsisted  under  the  truly  pious  Care 
&  most  worthy  Conduct  of  the  Revd  Mr.  Cummings,  whom  We  heartily  pray  may  long  continue 
over  us  DO  PROTEST  Against  the  said  Address  for  the  many  reasons  before  Given  &  Also 
for  that  the  manner  of  proceeding  to  obtain  the  same  being  unprecedented  unwarranted  and 
tends  very  much  to  disquiet  and  Distract  the  Congregation  which  is  Repugnant  to  the  Doc- 
trine and  Principles  of  the  said  Church,  &  which  We  sincerely  profess.* 

Jn°  Robinson,  Church  Warden, 

Jn°  Kearsley, 

Tho"  Leach, 

Geo.  Plumley,         Thomas  Treste, 

Pet.  Evans,  Sam'  Hasell. 

Andrew  Bradford, 

Wm  Pyewell, 

Will.  Bulky, 

The  Smith  MSS.  contain  the  original  draft  of  this  Protest  in  Col.  Evans's  handwriting,  as  well  as  the  Copy 
prepared  for  transmission  to  England. 


1737-"* 


527 

"  Ferdinando  John    Paris's  L*  to   Wm  Allen   about  the  Bishop  of  London    18th   Xber, 

Tuesday,  i8,h  Octor  1737. 

I  came  to  Town  late  on  Saturday  Night  &  on  Monday  (being  Yesterday)  waited  on 
Messrs.  Barclay  &  White  in  relation  to  Mr.  Peters'  Affair,  &  after  receiving  their  Instructions  & 
the  Papers  I  this  morning  waited  on  the  Bishop  of  London  with  them.  He  told  me  he  had 
three  weeks  ago  rec*^  many  Papers  relating  to  that  affair  &  had  returned  his  answer  to  the  Com- 
missary &:  to  the  Vestry  a  fortnight  ago.  That  in  those  Lre3  he  had  strongly  Recommended 
peace  &:  Unity  to  the  Vestry  &  had  suspended  his  former  Letter  wch  gave  Lib'7  to  Mr.  Peters  to 
be  Assistant  to  Mr.  Cumings,  &  Desired  that  that  might  not  be  longer  insisted  upon  as  a  Lib- 
erty to  Mr.  Peters  to  use  Mr.  Cumings  Pulpit  unless  Mr.  Cumings  himself  thought  proper  to 
give  him  Leave  to  preach  there,  and  that  he  thought  necessary  to  be  done  not  by  way  of  Cen- 
sure upon  Mr.  Peters  but  to  preserve  peace  &  Unity  in  the  Church  &  prevent  all  uneasiness. 
The  Bishop  told  me  further  that  in  those  LrM  he  had  forebore  to  Censure  either  of  the  partys 
as  having  then  heard  but  one  side.  But  tho'  [he]  had  forebore  that  in  his  L"*  &  did  much 
approve  of  Mr.  Peters  declining  to  assist  Mr.  Cummings  Yet  in  his  own  mind  he  could  not  quite 
acquit  Mr.  Peters  particularly  of  ill  manners  to  the  Minister,  to  whom  a  very  different  Carriage 
he  said  was  due,  not  only  as  the  Minister  but  as  he  had  been  so  far  Mr.  Peters'  Friend  as  to  join 
in  asking  the  Bishop's  Consent.  Whereas  the  Bpp  said  he  had  a  Certificate  from  another  Cler- 
gyman, sent  over  by  himself,  who  was  present  when  Mr.  Peters  used  very  indecent  language  to 
Mr.  Cumings.  I  Observed  to  his  Lopp  that  this  was  a  Charge  Mr.  Peters  could  by  no  means 
expect,  nor  could  I  be  prepared  to  Answer  it.  But  as  Mr.  Peters  had  with  so  much  Coolness  of 
Temper  &  resignation  quitted  his  being  Assistant  purely  to  preserve  peace  &  Unity  it  was  to  be 
believed  he  had  not  in  any  personal  Conversation  with  Mr.  Cumings  used  him  with  any  heat  or 
ill  manners.  At  least  Mr.  Peters  hoped  he  might  have  that  Comon  priviledge  of  knowing  his 
accusation  &  a  possibility  wch  yet  he  had  not  of  Defending  his  Character,  wc  was  dearer  to  him 
than  his  Life.  To  this  the  Bpp,  by  many  Words  did  not  expressly  say,  but  seemed  to  me  to 
intimate,  that  he  had  no  thought  of  passing  any  Censure  on  Mr  Peters,  &  therefore  to  keep  up 
the  Contention  between  the  parties  might  be  to  disturb  the  peace  of  the  Church  &  give  the 
Enemy  advantage,  wch  wd  not  be  Expedient.  I  mention11  [to]  him  the  Address  from  the  Church- 
warden &  Majority  of  the  Vestry  in  Mr.  Peters  favour.  To  wch  he  answered  that  he  had  heard 
of  that  &  of  the  meeting  of  that  Vestry  at  a  Tavern,  &  even  had  a  Copy  of  the  Lre  wch  Mr. 
Peters  had  writ  to  sev1  of  the  Vestry,  &  wch  Lre  (if  I  rightly  understood  the  Bishop)  he  called  an 
insinuating  L".  But  he  said  that  the  Certificate  wch  he  had  before  from  the  rest  of  the  Vestry 
was  from  such  who  were  regular  Communicants  &  whose  Characters  he  knew,  whereas  he  had 
repeated  acco"  of  Mr.  Peters  Consorting  himself  &  making  his  Friendships  with  ^sons  who 
profest  themselves  what  the  World  called  Free  thinkers ;  I  again  desired  Mr.  Peters  might  know 
and  have  a  Copy  of  the  Charges  against  him  &  an  Opportunity  of  Defending  himself,  but  the 
Bishop  seemed  to  Wave  it,  said  the  thing  was  over,  Mr.  Peters  had  quitted  &  it  would  be 
hurting  the  Peace  of  the  Church  to  set  them  to  sending  &  proving  &  breake  that  Unity  & 
Charity  which  should  be  preserved. 

*  Endorsement  on  original  MS. 


528 

He  at  length  told  me  that  the  first  Leisure  time  he  had  he  would  read  over  all  the  papers 
wch  I  carryed  to  him  cS;  I  shall  desire  that  Mr.  Peters  Lre  to  Mr.  Arch  Deacon  Stubbs  be  Carryed 
to  the  Arch  Deacon  who  possibly  may  speak  to  the  Bpp  thereon  but  I  am  apt  to  think  the  Bpp  at 
present  does  not  design  to  do  anything  further  in  the  matter  than  what  he  has  already  done. 

For  my  part  I  came  to  Town  but  on  Saturday  night,  but  I  wish  Mr.  Peters' s  first  Letters 
had  been  delivered  as  soon  as  they  came  to  Mr.  Pole's  hands,  to  have  gone  along  with  &  been 
Considered  at  the  same  time  with  Mr.  Cuming's  Lre'  &  papers  to  the  Bishop. 

I  could  only  add  that  the  Bishop  repeatedly  mentd  to  Me,  &  (as  he  says,  Also  in  his 
Letter  to  the  Vestry)  the  good  Opinion  he  must  entertain  of  Mr.  Cumins  of  whom  he  had  recd 
no  Complaint  neither  as  a  Clergyman  nor  as  a  Commissary  in  u  or  12  Years  he  had  been  there. 

As  Mr.  Peters  was  so  very  well  recommended  to  me,  I  assure  you  I  used  all  the  Little 
Interest  I  thought  I  had  with  the  Bishop,  &  all  the  Arguments  I  could  think  of  to  Procure  his 
favour  to  Mr.  Peters,  or  at  least  that  Common  Liberty,  to  know  &  answer  his  accusation  but  the 
Bishop  seemed  to  have  Determined  himself  before  I  came  haveing  Writ  as  I  just  now  said  on 
this  Occasion  to  Pensilvania  a  fortnight  ago. 

If  Mr.  Peters  Friends  here  can  think  of  anything  further  to  be  done  here  for  his  service  I 

will  most  readily  Contribute  my  all  Endeavours  thereto,  for  the  sake  of  the  Recommendation 

Mr.  Peters  had  to  him  who  is 

Sir, 

Your  most  Obedient  humble  Servant, 

FERD0  JOHN  PARIS. 
Dear  Friend 

Thee'll  see  by  the  above  Letter  we  acted  immediately  on  Paris'  coming  to  Town,  it  was 
a  misfortune  to  Peters  that  Pole  did  not  deliver  the  Papers  for  the  Bishop  on  his  first  having 
them,  had  they  been  sent  to  me  they  had  been  deliver'd  altho'  the  Bishop  seems  still  to  support 
Cummins,  we  will  have  Peters'  Letter  immediately  deliver'd  to  y"  Archdeacon  &  see  what  that 
will  do,  altho'  there's  but  small  hopes  of  any  favour  from  that  Spiritual  Lord  to  Peters. 

Thy  ready  ffd, 

VA.  BARCLAY. 

At  a  Vestry  held  the  21"  day  of  June,  1738. 
Present 

The  Revd 

Arch4  Cummings,  Peter  Boynton,  Wm  Pyewell, 

Wiliam  Hillier,  Charles  Willing, 

Benjn  Morgan,  Thomas  Bourne, 

Oswald  Peel,  William  Chancellor, 

Rich4  Nixon,  William  Tilt, 

John  Danby,  Rich.  Sewell. 
John  Kearsley, 

Whereas  application  hath  been  made  by  a  considerable  Number  of  ^9sons  belonging  to  the 
Congra,io°  who  are  not  provided  wth  Pews,  that  some  proper  place  or  places  may  be  assigned 
them  &  as  it  appears  by  the  Report  of  A  Committee  appointed  by  the  last  Vestry  that  there  is 


529 

not  a  sufficient  number  of  pews  for  the  use  of  the  Congregat"  it  is  therefore  ordered  that  the 
Church  Wardens  do  Cause  as  soon  as  conveniently  can  be  done  a  Gallery  to  be  Built  on  the 
North  side  of  the  Church  to  extend  to  that  part  already  built,  &  the  Church  Wardens  are  by 
the  Consent  of  the  Vestry  empowered  to  pay  for  the  building  of  the  said  Gallery  out  of  the 
moneys  \vcb  shall  arise  by  the  Box  money. 

Ordered  that  Docf  John  Kearsley  Charles  Willing  &  Thomas  Bourne  be  a  Committee  to 
draw  up  a  Subscription  for  the  furnishing  the  Church  &  the  discharging  Debts  already  due  to 
Sundry  ^sons  &  lay  the  same  before  the  said  Vestry. 

Ordered  That  Thomas  Lawrence  John  Kearsley  Peter  Boynton  William  Chancellor  &  Wil- 
liam Tilt  be  a  Committee  to  draw  up  an  Answer  to  the  Bishop  of  London's  Letter  to  the 
Church  Wardens  &  Vestry  from  Fulham  wch  his  Lordship  wrote  from  Fulham  Sep'  28th,  1737. 
Ordered 

That  Messrs  William  Chancellor,  William  Tilt  John  Kearsley  Thos  Lawrence  &  Thomas 
Leech  the  Committee  appointed  for  settling  the  ace13  of  the  Church,  &c,  be  continued. 

TO  THE  RIGHT  REVEREND  FATHER  IN  GOD  EDMUND  LORD  BISHOP  OF  LONDON. 

We  the  Subscribers  Members  of  the  Congregation  of  Christ  Church,  in  the  Province  of 
Pennsylvania,  Do  with  the  utmost  sence  of  gratitude  sincerely  acknowledge  your  Lordship's 
kind  and  paternal  Regard  to  this  Congregation  in  General  and  particularly  to  us  who  have 
endeavour'd  to  Silence  the  unreasonable  clamour  rais'd  by  the  Instigation  of  Mr.  Peters  and  his 
Abettors.  And  have  as  We  conceiv'd  it  our  incumbent  Duty  made  bold  to  lay  before  your 
Lordship  our  Protestation  against  His  and  their  late  proceedings  and  Address.  Your  Lord- 
ship's Candid  Remarks  most  Just  Decision  wholesome  and  Ghostly  Admonition  and  Advice 
thereupon  commands  our  best  returns  of  gratitude  and  gives  us  Infinite  pleasure  and  Satisfaction 
and  good  ground  to  hope  for  that  Peace  and  Unanimity  among  us  which  Yr  Lordp  counsels 
&  the  Revd  Mr.  Cummings  by  his  Doctrine  Life  and  Conversation  most  earnestly  and  emphati- 
cally recommends — and  who  justly  Merits  all  the  Good  we  can  say  or  do  for  him.  It's  no  less 
our  surprise  and  concern  to  find  some  of  our  fellow  Members  still  adhere  to  and  take  Measures 
from  that  party  who  has  given  Your  Lordship  and  us  so  much  uneasiness.  Our  earnest  desire 
for  Peace  &  unity  agreeably  to  yr  Lordp'3  &  our  worthy  Commissary's  Instructions  forbid  us  to 
show  any  Spirit  of  Resent'  to  that  unworthy  Representation  wch  we  understand  some  few  re- 
duced &  misled  ^?sons  among  us  are  making  to  y*  Lordp.  And  we  entirely  rely  on  yr  Lordp's 
wonted  candour  &  goodness  to  approve  of  our  Conduct  herein.  But  as  the  Revd  Mr.  Cummings 
by  most  laudable  discharge  of  his  Ministerial  Function  &  Exemplary  good  Conduct  in  all  Points 
has  gain'd  the  Esteem  and  Veneration  of  all  good  Men  and  cultivated  that  Love  and  unanimity 
among  us  becoming  a  Christian  Congregation,  which  subsisted  till  the  Arrival  of  that  party  among 
us,  So  we  have  no  room  to  doubt  but  the  same  means  will  Soon  heal  the  Difference  and  restore 
that  Blessing  to  us  which  together  with  Your  Lordship's  flavour  and  Benediction  We  most  sin- 
cerely pray  for  and  beg  leave  to  subscribe  ourselves, 

May  it  please  yr  Lordp, 

Your  Lordship's  most  Obliged  and 

Obedient  humble  Servu, 
67 


53o 

Subscribed  to  by  the  following  persons, 

Benj.   Godffrey,  Andrew  Bradford, 

John  Kearsley,  Sam1  Hasell, 

Jno.   Robinson,  Geo,.   Plumley, 

Thos  Leech,  Pete.  Evans, 

Jn°  Hyatt,  Tho.  Treste, 

Will.  Bully, 

Alexr  Annand.* 

The  subscribers  to  the  Address  to  his  Lord"  are  all  Ancient  settlers  &  communicants  of  y° 
Church  here.  Mr.  Godffrey  has  lived  here  ever  since  the  first  settlem'  of  the  Church  here  & 
some  years  before,  is  a  person  of  ample  ffortune,  good  sense,  sober  and  sincere,  Religious  man, 
ab'  70  years  old  has  Expressed  extraordinary  concern  for  the  disturbance  created  by  Peters  & 
may  be  expected  to  leave  something  considble  at  his  death  to  ye  Church,  &  to  Mr.  Cummings 
whom  he  very  much  admires.  Mr.  Alex7  Annand  has  been  (&  is)  Mr  of  the  Grammar  School 
here  ab'  15  years  &  w"'  John  Robinson  are  the  latest  comers.  Tho.  Leech  was  yr  Schoolfellow  here 
&  went  home  ab'  same  time ;  both  he  &  Dr.  John  Kearsley  have  been  members  of  Assembly 
here  for  14  or  15  years  and  were  the  two  managers  of  the  building  of  our  ^sent  [church]. 
They  two  &  Mr.  Cummings  have  advanced  more  money  than  all  the  ^sent  pretended  Vestry  & 
would  willingly  reimburse  these  abettors  of  Peters  all  the  money  they  have  advanced  on  yc 
Church  to  get  rid  of  them  to  wch  End  Mr.  Godeffroy  &:  others  would  contribute  being  very 
sensible  they  are  spirited  by  Peters  &  his  ffd  A.  Hamilton. 

Copy. 
My  good  ffriend,  f 

It  must  be  upon  a  Motion  carry'd  by  a  Majority  that  I  be  requested  to  come  to  Vestry.  If 
things  do  not  go  aright,  Let  it  be  moved  that  I  come  to  assign  my  reasons  for  declining  my 
assistance  &  I'l  willingly  do  it.  If  you  can  conveniently  hand  this  to  Mr.  Lawrence  &  Mr.  Till 
&  as  many  as  they  shall  think  proper  I  am  at  Mr.  Bingham's. 

Yrs. 

R.  PETERS. 

The  above  is  a  Copy  of  an  Original  Lre  of  Peters,  wch  I  enclos"  in  mine  to  you  in  order  to 
show  the  Bp  the  forward  temper  of  that  Gent,  to  create  Division  between  Mr.  Cummings  &  his 
Congregation,  tho'  in  Truth  several  Months  before  he  preach'd  his  farewell  Sermon,  to  leave 
the  Church  &  Embrace  the  Lay  Office  he  now  holds  and  the  reasons  he  then  &  would  now 
assign  are  notoriously  false.  And  done  to  please  A.  Hamilton  who  came  to  Church  to  hear  that 
Sermon,  tho'  he  had  not  been  there  in  ten  years.  But  that  Sermon  had  been  often  con'd  over 
at  his  house  before  it  was  preach'd  as  is  in  proof. 

*  Endorsed  "Address  to  Bishop  of  London,  enclosed  to  Dr.  Moore  under  care  of  Tho.  Bond." 
f  In  the  copy  among  the  Smith  MSS.  there  is  added  in  parentheses  with  the  note,  "  this  is  not  in  the  original," 
"  (meaning  Peter  Boynton,  '  a  Quaker  bred  ')." 


53i 

By  this  you  may  read  the  names  of  his  princle  Tools. 

Pray  let  me  know  if  the  Orig'  Lre  was  delivd  to  his  Lordp  &  is  in  his  Custody,  For  Peters  & 
his  Tools  affirm  that  they  have  it,  tho'  I  must  believe  it  very  false. 

We  have  a  new  Govr  Coll.  George  Thomas,  who  is  a  Gent,  of  good  Sense  &  wh  is  not 
com' on  for  such,  he  has  a  good  Clear  Estate,  Yet  I  am  apt  to  think  he  loveth  more.  But  till 
try'd  a  winter  &  summer  can't  tell  what  manner  of  Govr  he  is. 

14  Aug",   1738. 
Sr 

The  Bearer  Mr.  Thomas  Bond  who  goes  hence  for  London  on  his  way  to  Montpellier  for 
his  Health,  is  a  practi'oner  of  physic  &  Chyrugery  &  liv'd  in  this  City  several  years  in  good 
Repute.     If  Coll.  Evans  is  gone  to  ffrance  he  would  be  glad  to  have  directions  to  see  him. 

Yrs, 

To  Dr.  Thomas  Moore.  P.   E. 

Philadelphia,  Augst  14,  1738. 
Dear  Brother, 

You  observe  that  R.  Peters  is  provided  for  out  of  the  Church  wch  he  seem'd  least  to  Re- 
gard, and  I  assure  you,  Your  observation  is  right.  But  He  still  endeavours  to  keep  up  the 
Division  as  much  as  in  him  lies.  And  We  have  those  among  us  who  are  weak,  I  would  not  say, 
wicked  enough  to  adhere  to  him  ag3t  all  sense  of  Religion  &  Policy.  For  as  the  Priviledge  and 
Protection  of  the  Church  here  under  the  Bp  of  London's  Care,  is  provided  for  and  secured  by 
the  Royal  Charter  of  this  Province  we  are  no  less  wanting  in  policy  than  our  religious  Duty  as 
Members  of  this  Church  when  we  take  or  admit  of  any  measures  destructive  of  our  Interest 
wth  the  Bp,  on  whom  that  Priviledge  and  Protection  so  much  depends  as  by  the  Paragraph  of 
that  Chre  inclosed  Appears,  so  that  nothing  but  our  own  bad  Conduct  can  hurt  us.  But  the 
Pittifull  Efforts  of  this  Factious  ill  Man  and  his  Abettors  can  avail  little  while  Mr.  Cummings 
presides  over  us.  You  may  Understand  by  the  inclosed,  addressed  to  the  Bp,  how  unworthy 
&  undutifull  some  among  us  are.  We  beg  you'l  please  to  convey  this  inclosed  to  his  Lordship 
if  you  think  it  proper.  We  are  loath  to  trouble  his  Lordship  but  are  willing  the  fault  should  be 
imputed  to  the  Guilty  only.  It  may  be  observ'd  as  the  Truth  is,  that  the  persons  who  assume 
the  name  and  Title  of  Vestrymen  &  presume  to  Address,  as  such,  to  his  Lordship  &  that 
without  Mr.  Cumming's  leave  or  Lysence,  were  not  chose  according  to  the  Order  &  Rule  (of 
wch  you  have  herewith  a  Copy)  of  the  Church.  But  on  Easter  Monday  last  a  Number  of  Young 
men  were  introduced  into  the  Church  by  the  Abettors  of  Peters,  (none  of  them  qualify")  and 
directed  to  elect  Church  Wardens  and  Vestry  men  which  they  accordingly  did.  The  sedate 
Members,  to  avoid  the  Clamour  and  Contention  which  was  the  Desired  Effect  of  those  Abbet- 
tors,  on  this  choice,  made  no  resistance  in  that  Sacred  place,  but  barely  observ*  on  the 
misconduct  and  breach  of  Order. 

Mr.  Cummings  prudently  declines  much  notice  or  any  resentment  of  these  proceedings, 
tho'  he's  deny'd  a  Copy  of  their  Address  as  Vestry.  And  after  his  Example  (the  most  worthy 
of  Imitation  of  any  I  ever  knew)  we  sit  quiet  and  agree  with  him  that  to  disregard  these 
factious  Parties  &  proceedings  is  the  most  effectual  way  to  quell  them,  for  Opposition  will 
nourish  them  &  give  pleasure  to  our  Adversaries  who  are  Enemies  to  our  Church  and  profes- 
sion and  by  whom  these  groundless  Divisions  are  fomented  and  continued,  probably  they  may 


532 

accost  his  L'1''  in  Numbers,  but  consisting  numerantibus  non  ponderantibus.  His  Ldp  will  favour  a 
few  Ancient  <N:  Continued  Communicants  rather  than  a  Multitude  under  no  Test  or  Qualifica- 
tion of  being  sincere  Members  of  that  Church  but  by  their  unreasonable  Clamour  &  Contention 
appear  otherwise. 

We  all  join  in  sincere  affection  to  you  cc  yours. 

I  remain, 

Your  most  affectionate  Brocr 

&  Obliged  hum.  Serv'. 


Present 


Att  a  Vestry  held  the*  [2d  or  3]d,  171 7. 


Dr.  Evans, 

The  Governor, 

The  Churchwardens  &  Vestry. 

The  Vestry  considering  that  great  Inconveniences  may  flow  from  allowing  all  persons 
promiscuously  to  Vote  in  the  yearly  Election  of  Vestrys  without  their  having  given  some  proof 
of  their  being  truly  of  the  Communion  of  the  Church  Do  therefore  recommend  it  to  the 
Doctor  to  keep  a  faithfule  List  of  all  such  persons  as  come  yearly  to  the  Communion  Table, 
in  Order  to  distinguish  them  from  sucli  others  as  either  never  have  communicated  or  shall  here- 
after fall  off  from  the  Church  Communion. 

And  that  two  Sundays  immediately  before  the  Election  of  any  Vestry  the  Doctor  after 
Divine  Service  to  cause  the  Clerk  publicly  to  read  the  above  minute  to  the  congregation  certi- 
fying to  all  persons  concerned  that  it  is  and  shall  be  hereafter  a  standing  Order  of  the  Vestry 
that  no  person  be  admitted  to  Vote  in  the  Election  of  any  succeeding  Vestry  or  of  the  Church 
wardens  unless  it  be  made  appear  that  some  time  within  the  Space  of  Twelve  Months  before 
such  Election  such  person  pretending  to  Vote  actually  did  Communicate  and  Receive  the  Sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord's  Supper  according  to  the  Rights  of  the  Church  of  England. 

vera  copia  exiata. 

We  have  thus  given,  not  only  as  a  contribution  to  the  general  history  of  the  Church  in 
Pennsylvania,  but  as  an  interesting  episode  in  the  Annals  of  Christ  Church  parish,  Philadelphia, 
the  minute  details  of  this  controversy  which,  for  a  time,  threatened  to  divide  the  Church  in 
this  Province  to  its  very  centre.  The  "Address"  agreed  upon  at  the  meeting  of  the  "Vestry," 
July  28,  1737,  is  to  be  found  in  Dr.  Dorr's  History  of  Christ  Church  (pp.  67-69),  and  his 
Bishop's  letter  in  response  to  that  which  we  have  given  above  from  the  "ancient"  members, 
appear  in  the  same  volume  (pp.  69-71).  It  will  be  of  interest  to  remember  that  after  an  interval 
of  a  quarter  of  a  century,  the  Rev.  Richard  Peters  was  elected  to  the  rectorship  of  Christ 
Church,  and  continued  in  that  office  till  his  decease,  in  1776. 

Pp.   203,   211. 
The  controversy  between  Commissary  Garden  and  the  celebrated  George  Whiteficld  will 

*  MS.  illegible. 


533 

be  noticed  at  length  in  connection  with  the  South  Carolina  MSS.,  and  need  not  be  detailed 
here.  The  sermons  to  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cummings  makes  reference  were  the  last  publication 
from  the  pen  of  their  author,  who  died  in  the  following  April. 

P.   204. 

The  "son  "  who  "was  resolved  to  push  his  fortune  by  the  sword  since  he  saw  no  probabil- 
ity of  coming  at  the  gown,"  we  shall  shortly  find  reference  to  as  the  Rev.  ^Eneas  Ross. 

Pp.     211,    212. 

The  Rev.  Jonathan  Arnold,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College  in  the  class  of  1723,  had  been 
ordained  in  1736,  in  which  year  he  received  an  ad  eundem  "M.A."  from  the  University  of 
Oxford.  He  died  in  1739.  Notices  of  his  missionary  labors  at  New  Haven  will  be  found  in 
Dr.  Beardsley's  exhaustive  History  of  the  Church  in  Connecticut,  I.  pp.  110-117.  Further 
references  to  him  appear  in  Barber's  Hist.  Coll.  of  Conn.  p.  246;  in  the  "Church  Review," 
X.  pp.  113-115;  in  Hawkins's  Missions,  pp.  1S9,  190  ;  in  Updike's  Hist,  of  the  Narragansett 
Church,  p.  163 ;  in  Bolton's  Westchester  Church,  p.  237;  and  in  Gadsden's  Life  of  Bp. 
Dehon,  p.  22. 

P.   213. 

The  "Orphan  House  "  erected  by  Whitefield  at  Bethseda,  in  Georgia,  is  minutely  described 
in  Stevens's  History  of  Georgia,  I.  347-354.  A  view  of  the  building  accompanies  this  account, 
reduced  in  size  from  that  found  in  Whitefield's  Works  (8vo.  London,  1771),  HI.  pp.  431-509, 
where  are  reprinted  in  full  the  various  "Accounts  of  the  Progress"  of  this  interesting  charity, 
the  "Negro  School  in  Pennsylvania"  is  referred  to  in  Dr.  Gillies's  Memoirs  of  the  Life  of  the 
Rev.  George  Whitefield,  comprised  in  the  eighth  volume  of  his  works  already  cited,  pp.  54-56. 

P.   218. 

A  full  account  of  the  ministerial  life  of  John  Rowland  will  be  found  in  Webster's  Hist,  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  America,  pp.  469-473 ;  and  in  Dr.  Gillett's  History  of  the  same 
body,  I.  71,  72,  74. 

Pp.   223,  224. 

From  a  copy  of  this  Address  preserved  among  the  "Smith  MSS.,"  we  note  several  clerical 
errors  in  the  transcript  followed  in  the  body  of  this  work,  e.  g.:  "William  Byewell"  for  "Wil- 
liam Pyewell,"  and  "Alexander  Woodrof"  for  "  Alexr  Woodropp."  Peter  Boynton  and 
Edward  Bradley  are  noted  on  this  copy  as  absent ;  and  attention  is  called  to  a  paragraph  from 

a  letter  from  the  Rev.  George  Ross  to  A.  A ,  respecting  the  Rev.  Mr.  Peters's  character, 

which  is  also  transcribed  as  follows : 

"  I  cannot  forbear  expressing  my  pleasure  that  yor  intruding  blazing  star  is  like  to  go  out 
wth  a  *  *  That  a  Rascall  that  is  not  fit  [for]  Lay  Communion  by  his  own  Representation  should 
presume  to  Act  Clerice  is  a  high  presumption.  For  the  deepest  Repentance  was  never  allow'd 
to  restore  such  a  Man  to  the  Exercises  of  the  Ministerial  Function." 

We  shall  have  occasion  to  refer  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ross's  connection  with  this  matter  below. 


534 

The  position  of  Mr.  Peters,  as  Secretary  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Province,  and  some  of  his 
official  acts,  were  doubtless  among  the  sources  of  the  continued  opposition  to  his  resuming  the 
clerical  office  at  Christ  Church ;  but  the  circumstances  of  his  unfortunate  marriages,  as  earlier 
detailed,  are  used  as  the  ostensible  reason  in  the  numerous  papers  found  among  the  Smith  MSS. 

Pp.   228,   229. 

Two  copies  of  the  letter  to  the  Bishop  of  London  from  the  Clergy  referred  to  in  Mr. 
Peters's  letter  are  preserved  among  the  Smith  MSS.,  from  which  we  have  already  drawn  so 
many  papers  bearing  on  this  controversy.     We  give  the  Letter  below : 

To  the  Right  Reverend  Edmund  Lord  Bishop  of  London. 

May  it  please  your  Lordship, 

We  the  Clergy  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  beg  leave  to  acquaint  your  Lordship  that 
we  attended  here  yesterday  the  much  Lamented  Funeral  of  our  Revd  &  worthy  Brother  Mr. 
Archibald  Cummings,  your  Lordship's  Com'isary  in  these  parts.  And  that  at  the  Earnest 
request  of  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Vestry  in  this  City,  we  have  agreed  to  Supply  the  Vacancy  with 
what  care  we  can,  'till  your  Lordship  is  pleas'd  to  fill  it  with  a  pastor  fit  to  undertake  so  great  a 
Cure  from  Home.  Our  absence  from  our  proper  Charges  will  not  be  taken  well  if  it  should 
prove  to  be  of  long  Continuance,  we  therefore  pray  that  your  Lordship  would  be  pleas'd  to 
send  a  speedy  Relief,  to  ease  us  from  the  Burden  of  supplying  this  vacancy,  and  the  ill  Conse- 
quences that  may  attend  our  leaving  our  flocks  for  any  considerable  time.  The  Church  here 
will  address  your  Lordship  upon  this  head  with  all  expedition,  to  whose  Determination  & 
Unquestionable  prudence,  We  and  they  are  ready  to  pay  all  due  submission. 

If  any  application  is  or  shall  be  made  to  your  Lordship  in  behalf  of  Mr.  Peters,  who  is 
well  known  to  your  Lordship  by  the  uneasiness  he  gave  to  our  deceased  Brother,  We  think  it 
our  Duty  to  let  your  Lordship  know,  That  in  whatever  light  Mr.  Peters  is  Represented  to  your 
Lordship  by  his  Friends  here,  your  Lordship's  granting  him  any  power  here  to  discharge  the 
sacred  Function,  will  prove  the  Overthrow  of  the  peace  &  Unity  of  the  Church  at  Phila- 
delphia. 

Philad*,  April  23d,  1741. 

Signed  by 

Geo:  Ross,  Miss"7  at  New  Castle, 

Rich"  Backhouse,  Missry  at  Chester, 

Arthur  Usher,  Missry  at  Dover, 

W"  Curry,  Miss"7  at  Radnor,  &c, 

WK  Lindsay,  Itinerant  in  Pennsylv",  &c, 

Colin  Campbell,  Miss"7  at  Burlington  New  Jersey. 

We  learn  from  the  reference  on  page  228,  as  well  as  from  several  papers  among  the  Smith 
MSS.,  that  Mr.  Ross  retracted  the  last  paragraph  of  this  Address  after  an  interview  with  Mr. 
Peters,  and  that  Mr.  Currie,  influenced,  it  would  seem,  by  fear  of  legal  prosecution,  did  the 


535 

same.     Both  of  these  missionaries  appear  from  the  MSS.  referred  to  as  inimical  to  Mr.  Peters, 
and  as  deeming  him  unfit  for  the  exercise  of  his  sacred  calling. 

P.   231. 

The  Rev.  Ebenezer  Kinnersley  had  been  engaged  in  a  newspaper  controversy  with  the 
supporter  of  the  Presbyterian,  Rowland,  to  whom  we  have  already  referred.  The  excesses  of 
the  Whitefieldian  movement  were  distasteful  to  him,  and  doubtless  were  the  means  of  turning 
his  attention  to  the  Church.  His  desire  to  enter  the  service  of  the  Venerable  Society  as  a 
missionary  was  not  gratified,  and  his  name  is  remembered  chiefly  as  a  Professor  in  the  College 
and  Academy  of  Philadelphia,  and  from  his  sharing  in  the  experiments  in  electricity  which 
rendered  the  name  of  Benjamin  Franklin  famous  throughout  the  world.  Vide  Webster's  Hist, 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  pp.  469,  471,  Notes;  Allibone's  Diet,  of  Authors,  II.  p.  1035; 
and  the  Philosophical  Transactions  for  1762  and  '63. 

P-   233- 
A  notice  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Sanckey,  the  Presbyterian  minister  referred  to,  will  be  found 
in  Webster's  Hist,  of  the  Presbyt.  Ch.,  pp.  457,  458. 

P.   234. 

The  correspondence  relating  to  the  coming  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Jenney,  LL.D.,  to  Christ 
Church  is  given  in  full  in  Dr.  Dorr's  History,  pp.  76-81.  The  Smith  MSS.  contain  the  auto- 
graph letter  of  Bp.  Gibson,  dated  "Whitehall,  Mar.  29,  1742,"  which  Dr.  Dorr  prints  in  full, 
and  the  answer  of  the  Churchwardens  to  the  letter  received  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jenney,  an- 
nouncing his  appointment.     This  letter  we  give  below  : 

Revd  Sr, 

Yor  Letter  of  the  12th  April  by  Cap'  Wright  we  have  receiv'd  \vth  the  agreeable  acco1  of 
his  Lordp  3  fiatherly  care  of  us  in  approveing  and  recommending  a  Gent"  of  yor  known  abilities  to 
be  our  Pastor.  We  hope  by  our  joynt  Endeavours  in  the  discharge  of  our  respective  Duties  & 
Obligations  to  each  other,  We  may  by  the  Blessing  of  Gcd,  Live  together  in  that  peacefull 
Harmony  wch  becomes  true  Members  of  the  Church  of  England.  We  heartily  wish  you  a  good 
passage  &  safe  arrival  among  us  &  are  wth  sincerity 

Yr  respectfull  hble  serv", 


W£f'  }  Ch.  Wardens. 


John  Ross 
for,  &  in  behalf  &  by  Order  of  ye  Vestry. 
July  8,  1742. 

P.   239. 

References  to  Mr.  John  Barge,  and  a  copy  of  his  epitaph,  together  with  an  interesting 
resume  of  the  early  annals  of  the  parish  at  Whitemarsh,  will  be  found  in  a  "  History  of  the  Parish 
of  St.  Thomas's  Church,  Whitemarsh,  Montgomery  County,  Penn'a,  by  the  Rev.  D.  C.  Millett, 
A.M.,  Rector.     Doylestown,  Pa.,  1864."     8vo.,  pp.  12. 


536 

Pp.  248,  249. 

The  Rev.  William  Sturgeon  was  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1745,  in  the  class  with  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Bradbury  Chandler,  D.D.,  and  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Learning,  D.D.  Licensed  to 
Pennsylvania  on  the  20th  of  June,  1747,  he  entered  upon  his  duties  as  Assistant  to  Dr.  Jenney 
and  Catechist  to  the  Negroes,  the  same  year,  and  continued  in  this  charge  until  the  31st  of  July, 
1766,  when  he  resigned  in  consequence  of  ill  health.  His  decease  took  place  on  the  5th  of 
November,  1772. 

P.    254. 

A  sketch  of  Alexander  Craighead,  the  "famous  leveller"  referred  to,  will  be  found  in 
Webster's  Hist,  of  the  Presbyterian  Ch.  pp.  434-437. 

Pp-   254,  255. 

The  Church  at  Huntington  will  receive  further  notice  in  connection  with  the  labors  of  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Barton,  vide  pp.  275-281,  and  elsewhere. 

P.   261. 

No  more  appropriate  place  than  this  offers  for  the  introduction  of  the  following  inter- 
esting document,  transcribed  from  the  original  in  the  possession  of  the  Hon.  John  William 
Wallace,  of  Philadelphia,  President  of  the  Pennsylvania  Historical  Society,  and  by  his  kindness 
communicated  for  our  use. 

To  the   Honorable  Thomas   Penn  &   Richard   Penn,   Esquires,   Proprietaries  of  the 

Province  of  Pennsylvania, 

The  Petition  of  divers  Inhabitants  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia  humbly  shows : 

That  the  Members  of  the  Church  of  England  residing  in  this  City  being  grown  so  numer- 
ous that  the  present  Church  is  little  more  than  sufficient  to  accommodate  one  half  of  the  Fam- 
ilies of  that  persuasion  with  seats,  &  it  being  judged  most  proper  that  another  Church  should  be 
built  towards  the  South  end  of  the  City;  and  no  vacant  ground  being  to  be  had  so  commodiously 
situated  for  the  purpose  as  some  part  of  your  104  Feet  Lott  which  extends  from  Second  Street  to 
fourth  Street  and  is  bounded  on  the  North  by  Pine  Street :  We  your  petitioners  do  humbly  entreat 
your  Honours  to  grant  us  a  Lott  on  the  West  side  of  Third  street  for  a  Church  &  Yard  for  the  use 
of  the  members  of  the  Church  of  England  in  &  about  this  City  on  such  Terms  as  to  your  Honours 
shall  seem  meet. 

And  your  Petitioners  will  pray,  &c. 
Philadelphia,  i  August,  1754. 

William  Plumsted,  James  Claypole,  Francis  Many,  John  Phillips, 

John  Wilcocks,  Charles  Stedman,  Evan  Morgan,  John  Grovey, 

Pr  Turner,  John  Inglis,  John  Wilkinson,  W  Murdock, 

Hen5'  Harrison,  John  Baynlon,  Jos.  Redman,  James  Peller, 

Jn°  Ord,  Jacob  Duche,  W"  Dowell,  John  Nixon, 


Buckridge  Sims, 
Charles  Meredith, 
Edwd  Dowers, 
Henry  Schleydorn, 
Wm  Jackson, 
John  Searle, 
Phineas  Bond, 
Alexr  Barclay, 
Alexr  Huston, 
Philip  Hurlbeart, 
Wm  Heaslton, 
Lester  Falkner, 
John  Palmer, 
Thomas  Wells, 
John  Wise, 
Thos.  Penrose, 


537 

Townsend  White, 
Daniel  Roberdeac, 
George  Sheed, 
Richd  Farmar, 
Rob1  Greenway, 
Amos  Strettell, 
Th.  Bond, 
Atwood  Shute, 
George  Okill, 
Redm"  Conyngham, 
Philip  Benezet, 
George  Eckles, 
James  Payne, 
Francis  Garrigues, 
Matthew  Johns, 
John  Lee, 


Wm  Craddocke, 
John  Wood, 
Wm  Moore, 
Thos  Charlton, 
James  Reappock, 
John  Leacock, 
Daniel  Rundle, 
Thos  Gordon, 
Wm  Leech, 
Jn°  Reily, 
William  Shute, 
John  Swift, 
Tho"  Lawrence, 
Tho.  Coombe, 
George  Claypoole, 


Enoch  Hobart, 
Wm  Peters, 
Sam1  McCall,  Jr., 
Archibald  McCall, 
George  McCall, 
Wm  Bingham, 
Rob'  Ellis,  Jr., 
Thos.  Hatton, 
Sam.  Carson, 
Zach.  Niernan, 
Warwick  Coates, 
Richard  Dennis, 
Francis  Molton, 
John  Yeates, 
Abm.  Masson. 


Pp.  262,  263. 

A  transcript  of  the  rare  pamphlet  which  we  give  below  will  not  inappropriately  preface 
our  references  to  the  celebrated  William  Smith,  whose  connection  with  the  political,  the  educa- 
tional, and  the  ecclesiastical  history  of  his  age  entitles  him  to  especial  notice  at  our  hands : 

THE 

RECOMMENDATION 


WILLIAM    SMITH,   A.M., 

PROVOST  OF  THE   COLLEGE   OF   PHILADELPHIA,    IN   AMERICA, 

TO   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  OXFORD. 

BY    THE 

ARCHBISHOP     OF     CANTERBURY     &     OTHERS. 

L  O  ND  O  N: 
MDCCLIX. 

TO  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  OXFORD. 


4to.  pp.  12. 


The  underwritten  Representation  in  behalf  of  William  Smith,  CI.,  M.A.,  of  the  University 
of  Aberdeen,  and  now  Provost  of  the  College  of  Philadelphia,  in  America, 
Humbly  sheweth, 

That  the  said  William  Smith  was  regularly  bred  at  the  University  aforesaid,  and  left  the 
same  in  March,  1747,  having  resided  the  full  Term  of  Years  there  required. 

*  Fifty  copies  privately  reprinted  for  Horace  W.  Smith,  Philadelphia.      1865. 
68 


538 

That  in  the  year  1750  he  was  sent  to  London  (on  a  Scheme  soon  afterwards  laid  aside), 
to  sollicit  the  Parliament  for  a  better  Establishment  of  the  Parochial  Schools  in  Scotland,  and 
was  particularly  recommended  to  the  then  Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 

That  after  this  he  accompanied  some  young  Gentlemen  to  America,  and  resided  upwards 
of  two  years  at  New  York,  having  carried  with  him  Letters  of  Recommendation  from  the  said 
Arch-Bishop  to  Lieutenant-Governor  Delancey  of  that  place,  who  had  been  his  Grace's  pupil 
at  Cambridge. 

That  in  1753,  he  visited  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  invited  to 
take  Care  of  a  laudable  Seminary  of  Learning,  just  founded  there;  to  which  he  consented,  on 
Condition  of  being  allowed  time  to  enter  into  holy  Orders. 

That  towards  the  End  of  the  year  he  did  accordingly  return  to  England,  and  was  regularly 
admitted  into  the  holy  Orders  of  Deacon  and  Priest,  by  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  ;  having 
brought  back  ample  Certificates  of  his  good  Behaviour  in  America,  as  well  to  the  aforesaid  Arch- 
Bishop,  as  to  several  other  Bishops  and  Dignitaries  of  our  Church;  and  particularly  to  his 
Grace  the  present  Arch-Bishop,  then  in  the  See  of  Oxford. 

That  in  May,  1754,  he  returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  with  the  Assistance  of  the  Other 
Persons  concern'd,  immediately  applied  himself  to  regulate  the  Seminary  under  his  Care, 
agreeably  to  the  Circumstances  of  the  Province ;  and  having  modelled  it  into  the  form  of  a 
College,  with  an  Academy  subordinate  thereto,  and  obtain'd  a  Charter  of  Incorporation,  he 
was  appointed  Provost  of  the  same,  which  Office  he  has  discharg'd  ever  since  (being  near  the 
space  of  five  Years),  and  given  several  Public  Specimens  of  his  Abilities  and  diligence  therein. 

That  he  has  had  the  Pleasure  to  see  the  Seminary  rising  and  flourishing  under  him,  even 
beyond  Expectation  ;  so  that  it  now  contains  near  300  Students  and  Scholars,  from  different 
Parts  of  America  (whose  circumstances  would  not  permit  of  an  Education  in  their  mother 
Country).  And  besides  himself  as  Provost,  there  is  also  a  Vice-Provost  (who  is  a  Doctor  of 
Divinity  from  Glasgow),  with  three  Professors  in  the  Sciences,  and  five  Tutors  or  Assistants, 
with  a  Power  of  conferring  the  usual  Degrees  in  Arts,  &c,  as  appears  more  fully  from  the 
printed  account  of  the  Institution. 

That  the  said  William  Smith  is  also  a  Trustee  for  the  Free  Schools,  lately  erected,  among 
the  vast  Body  of  his  Majesty's  German  Subjects  on  the  Frontiers  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Colonies 
adjacent,  by  an  honorable  Society  in  London,  in  order  to  instruct  the  Children  of  the  said 
Germans,  in  the  English  Tongue  and  Principles  of  Protestantism,  and  defeat  the  wicked 
Designs  of  the  French  and  Papist  Emissaries  that  swarm  among  them ;  to  which  pious  Work  his 
sacred  Majesty  has  been  a  generous  and  constant  Benefactor. 

That  in  consequence  of  this  Trust,  the  said  William  Smith  has,  besides  the  Youth  of  the 
College,  upwards  of  700  Children  continually  under  his  care,  in  different  parts  of  the  Country; 
that  he  visits  them  frequently  in  their  several  schools,  pays  the  Masters'  salaries,  and  superin- 
tends the  Execution  of  the  whole  Design. 

That  he  has,  to  his  best  Abilities,  employed  the  Influence  which  he  derives  from  these 
important  Trusts,  in  order  to  promote  Religion,  Learning,  and  good  Government  in  those  val- 
uable parts  of  his  Majesty's  Dominions,  and  particularly  to  advance  the  pious  Designs  of  the 
venerable  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel ;  having  kept  a  constant  Correspondence  with 
many  of  the  Members,  bred  up  several  young  Men,  who  now  make  a  Figure  in  their  Service, 


539 

and  several  more  are  coming  forward  under  him,  who  (being  of  less  confin'd  circumstances) 
propose  to  finish  their  Education  in  the  most  liberal  manner  at  the  English  Universities. 

That  during  all  the  late  Disturbances  in  America,  he  has  shown  himself  a  most  faithful 
subject  to  his  Majesty's  just  Government,  taking  every  Opportunity  to  excite  the  People  to  the 
Defence  of  their  inestimable  Possessions,  and  to  discourage  that  pernicious  Doctrine  too  preva- 
lent there,  viz:  "That  it  is  unlawful  for  Christian  men  to  wear  Weapons  and  serve  in  the 
Wars,"  A  Doctrine  which  has  occasion'd  the  spilling  much  innocent  Blood  in  Pennsylvania, 
enabled  the  French  to  establish  themselves  on  the  Ohio,  within  its  Borders,  and  was  the  main 
source  of  that  War  whose  Flames  involve  all  Europe. 

That,  in  particular,  when  the  unhappy  General  Braddock  was  defeated  and  slain ;  when 
the  French  and  their  savages  broke  in  upon  our  Frontiers,  carrying  Death  and  Desolation 
along  with  them,  and  the  whole  Province  was  in  Danger  of  being  lost  to  the  Crown  of  Great 
Britain,  the  hands  of  near  300,000  Inhabitants  being  tied  up  by  the  absurd  Principles  of  their 
Rulers,  who  under  pretence  of  Religion  refused  all  warlike  measures  for  Defence ;  the  said 
William  Smith  was  among  the  Number  of  those  wh^  exerted  themselves  signally,  on  that 
Occasion,  to  rouse  the  People  to  a  sense  of  their  Duty;  and  join'd  in  laying  an  humble  Repre- 
sentation of  their  distress'd  State  before  his  sacred  Majesty  in  Council,  by  which  means  a 
temporary  Relief  was  obtain'd  and  several  of  those  who  were  scrupulous  of  bearing  arms  or 
voting  money  for  the  Public  Defence  were  obliged  to  resign  their  Seats  in  Assembly. 

That  their  Successors  harboring  Resentment  against  those  who  had  been  concern'd  in  these 
necessary  Transactions,  and  particularly  desirous  to  prejudice  the  Free  Schools  and  Seminary  of 
Learning  under  the  said  William  Smith  (the  Propagation  of  Knowledge  and  Freedom  of 
Inquiry  being  unfriendly  to  their  dark  System  and  Views)  did  about  a  Twelvemonth  ago,  in 
the  most  unprecedented  manner,  set  themselves  up  above  the  Laws  ;  by  their  own  sole  authority, 
without  any  due  Form  or  Process,  and  without  the  Benefit  of  a  Jury,  trying,  condemning,  and 
imprisoning  several  of  his  Majesty's  liege  subjects,  for  alleged  offences  against  former  dissolved 
Assemblies ;  and  even  presumed  to  suspend  Acts  of  Parliament  by  commanding  his  Majesty's 
High  Sheriff  not  to  obey  any  Writs  of  Habeas  Corpus,  that  might  be  issued  in  behalf  of  the 
Persons  so  imprisoned. 

That  a  Number  of  the  principal  Inhabitants  of  Pennsylvania,  considering  these  outrageous 
Proceedings  as  subversive  of  the  very  Fundamentals  of  Liberty,  did  determine  to  support  an 
appeal  from  the  same  to  his  sacred  Majesty  in  Council,  which  appeal  was  accordingly  made,  and 
full  accounts  of  the  whole  transmitted  under  the  Great  Seal  of  the  Province ;  and  the  said 
William  Smith  (who  had  been  a  principal  Sufferer  in  this  affair)  is  now  in  England  to  sollicit 
its  speedy  Determination  which  is  soon  expected ;  his  Majesty  having  been  graciously  pleas'd 
to  refer  it  to  his  Attorney  and  Solicitor-General,  who  have  engaged  to  make  their  immediate 
Report  thereon. 

Now,  whereas  these  things  (many  of  which  are  of  public  Notoriety)  have  been  represented 
to  us  by  Persons  in  whom  we  can  well  confide,  and  whereas  the  said  William  Smith  is  person- 
ally known  to  most  of  us,  and  is  placed  in  a  station  in  America  that  gives  him  an  Opportunity 
of  being  extensively  useful  to  the  Interests  of  Religion,  Learning,  and  good  Government  in 
those  valuable  Parts  of  his  Majesty's  Dominions,  to  which  he  is  about  to  return,  We,  whose 
Names  are  underwritten,  think  that  it  may  contribute  to  the  advancement  of  those  Interests  to 


54Q 

confer  on  him,  by  your  Diploma,  the  Degree  of  Doctor  in  Divinity  ;  and  we  beg  Leave  to 
recommend  him  to  your  Grace  and  Favour  for  the  same,  not  doubting  but  he  will  make  it  the 
Care  of  his  Life  to  behave  worthy  of  so  honorable  a  mark  of  Your  Distinction,  and  the  hope 
we  entertain  concerning  him.  THOS     CANT 

R.    DUNELM, 
JOHN   SARUM, 
R.    ASAPH, 
J.    GLOUCESTER, 
London,  12th  March,  1759.  Z-    OXFORD. 

In  the  "Smith  Papers,"  among  the  General  Convention  MSS.,  are  a  large  number  of  letters 
and  documents  illustrating  the  inception  and  growth  of  the  Society,  to  which  reference  is  made 
both  in  the  text  and  in  the  "Recommendation"  printed  above.  Its  object  was  the  Establish- 
ment of  Free  Schools  among  the  Germans,  the  ulterior  design  being  the  strengthening  of  the 
interest  of  the  Crown  among  this  class  gf  the  population  of  the  Province.  It  will  not  be  out  of 
place  to  give  from  the  original  MS.,  preserved  among  the  "  Smith  Papers,"  the  following  letter, 
which,  though  evidently  prepared  for  publication,  appears  never  to  have  seen  the  light  before: 

A    LETTER 
Containing  some  remarks  upon  the  distress'd  State  of  the  German  Emigrants  settled  in  Penn- 
sylvania &  other  adjacent  Colonies  in  North  America;  with  an  Enquiry  into  the  Means  of  in- 
corporating them  with  the  English  in  the  rising  generation. 

Hi  postquam  in  una  moenia  convenere,  dispares  genere,  dissimiles  lingua.-,  aliii  alio,  more  viventes,  incredi- 
bile  memoratu  est,  quam  facile  valuerint. — Sal. 

A  British  soul  is  bent  on  higher  views ; 
To  civilize  the  rude  unpolish'd  world, 
And  lay  it  under  the  restraint  of  laws ; 
To  make  man  mild  &  sociable  to  man ; 
To  cultivate  the  wild  licentious  savage 
With  wisdom  Discipline  and  liberal  arts, 
The  Embellishments  of  Life. — Cato. 

TO 

/-The  Earl  of  Shaftsburv,  M*.  Alderman  Chittv, 

The  right  J 0F  Morton,  M*.  Alderman  Fluddver, 

honorable    j __    _  F]NLATER,  j0HN  BancE)  . 

L"  Willoughby  OF  Parham.  r0BErt  Ferguson,        I  Esqrs. 

j  Luke  Schaub,    \  Nath.  Paice, 
Sir  \  Jos  Van  Neck,  f  B:lrts-  ~\  D°.  Birch/ 

DR.  Benjamin  Amory,  The  Reyd  I  MK.  Caspar  Wetstein, 
M\  CoMMissr  Vernon,  J  M\  Thomson 

D\  Samuel  Chandler,  Secretary. 


54i 

The  Society  entrusted  with  the  monies  collect'd  for  the  use  of  foreign  Protestants  settled  in 
Pennsylvania. 

My  Lords  &  Gentlemen, 

For  many  years  past  incredible  numbers  of  poor  protestants  have  flock' d  from  divers  parts 
of  Germany  &  Switzerland  to  our  Colonies,  particularly  to  Pennsylvania.  Their  melancholy 
situation,  thro'  want  of  instructors  &  their  utter  inability  to  maintain  them,  with  the  distressing 
prospect  of  approaching  darkness  &  idolatry  among  them,  have  been  represented  to  their  fellow- 
protestants  in  Europe,  in  the  most  moving  terms. 

Indeed  it  is  deeply  affecting  to  hear  that  this  vast  branch  of  the  protestant  Church  is  in 
danger  either  of  sinking  into  barbarian  ignorance,  or  of  being  seduced  at  last  from  that  religion 
for  which  they  and  their  fathers  have  suffered  so  much.  And  should  ever  this  be  their  misfor- 
tune, their  Liberty  itself,  with  all  their  expected  use  to  these  nations,  will  be  entirely  lost. 
Besides  this,  their  having  no  opportunity  of  acquiring  our  language,  &:  their  living  in  a  separate 
body,  without  any  probability  of  their  incorporating  with  us,  are  most  alarming  considerations. 

In  these  circumstances,  the  Scheme  you  have  engaged  in,  to  send  instructors  among  these 
people,  is  of  the  greatest  importance.  The  influence  of  a  faithful  clergy  to  form  the  social 
temper,  to  keep  up  a  sense  of  religion,  &  guide  such  a  people  in  their  duty,  is  obvious.  Nor  is 
the  institution  of  Schools  for  the  education  of  their  children  a  point  of  less,  but  perhaps  still 
greater,  importance. 

Without  Education  it  is  impossible  to  preserve  a  free  government  in  any  Country,  or  to 
preserve  the  Spirit  of  Commerce.  Should  these  Emigrants  degenerate  into  a  state  little  better 
than  that  of  wood-born  savages,  what  use  could  they  make  of  English  privileges?  Liberty  is  the 
most  dangerous  of  all  weapons,  in  the  hands  of  those  who  know  not  the  use  &z  value  of  it. 
Those  who  are  in  most  cases  free  to  speak  &  act  as  they  please,  had  need  be  well  instructed 
how  to  speak  and  act ;  and  it  is  well  said  by  Montesquieu,  that  wherever  there  is  most  Freedom 
there  the  whole  power  of  Education  is  requisite  to  good  Government.  In  a  word,  Commerce 
&  Riches  are  the  offspring  of  Industry  &  an  unprecarious  property ;  but  these  depend  on  Virtue 
&  Liberty,  which  again  depend  on  Knowledge  &  Religion. 

But  further,  Education,  besides  being  necessary  to  support  the  Spirit  of  liberty  &  com- 
merce, is  the  only  means  for  incorporating  these  foreigners  with  ourselves,  in  the  rising  gener- 
ation. The  old  can  only  be  exhorted  and  warn'd.  The  young  may  be  instructed  and  form'd. 
The  old  can  neither  acquire  our  Language,  nor  quit  their  national  manners.  The  young  may 
do  both.  The  old,  whatever  degree  of  worth  they  acquire,  descend  apace  to  the  grave,  &  their 
influence  is  soon  lost.  The  young,  when  well  instructed,  have  their  whole  prime  of  life  before 
them,  &:  their  influence  is  strong  &:  lasting. 

By  a  common  Education  of  English  &  German  Youth  at  the  same  Schools,  acquaintances 
&  connexions  will  be  form'd,  &  deeply  impress' d  upon  them  in  their  cheerful  &  open  moments. 
The  English  language  &  a  conformity  of  manners  will  be  acquired,  &  they  may  be  taught  to  feel 
the  meaning  &:  exult  in  the  enjoyment  of  liberty,  a  home  &  social  endearments.  And  when 
once  these  sacred  names  are  understood  &  felt  at  the  heart ; — when  once  a  few  Intermarriages 
are  made  between  the  chief  families  of  the  different  nations  in  each  county,  which"  will  naturally 
follow  from  School-acquaintances,   &  the  acquisition  of  a  common  language,  no  arts  of  our 


542 

enemies  will  be  able  to  divide  them  in  their  affection  ;  and  all  the  narrow  distinctions  of  extrac- 
tion, &c,  will  be  forgot — for  ever  forgot — in  higher  interests. 

In  the  day  of  danger  should  any  attempt  be  made  to  seduce  our  Germans,  all  the  endear- 
ments of  acquaintances  formed  in  the  open  moments  of  youth  &  joy,  rushing  upon  the  heart  & 
resuming  their  early  place  in  it,  will  teach  every  one  to  reason  thus — 

"What !  shall  I  draw  my  sword,  &  perhaps  sheathe  it  next  in  the  bosom  of  my  dear  friend 
"  &  school  fellow?  shall  I  commence  the  deadly  foe  of  him  who  once  bore  my  fault  &  the  pun- 
"  ishment  due  to  it  ?  of  him  who  once  was  the  dear  partner  of  my  soul  &  all  my  youthful  sports? 
"of  him  whose  more  practised  arm  once  snatched  me  from  death,  when,  sporting  in  the  limpid 
"  wave  &  launching  beyond  my  depth,  I  was  borne  by  the  headlong  current  to  instant  fate?  can 
"I  forget  him  with  whom  I  received  the  first  impressions  of  virtue,  &  reasoned  so  oft  upon  the 
"  difference  of  governments,  &  the  excellency  of  our  own,  inculcated  upon  us  in  so  many 
lessons?" — Or,  perhaps,  a  dearer  tye,  with  eloquence  irresistible,  claims  to  be  heard  in  words 
like  these—"  What !  shall  I  divide  myself  for  ever  from  him,  whom,  tho'  born  of  English  parents, 
"  I  introduced  as  my  dear  school-fellow  to  my  father's  house,  which  gave  rise  to  an  acquaintance 
"that  issued  in  his  marriage  of  my  sister?  he,  in  return,  brought  me  acquainted  in  his  family. 
"  The  eyes  of  his  cousin  thrill  my  heart  with  emotions  not  to  be  described.  Her  every  look  is  ani  ■ 
"  mated  kindness  towards  me — I  am  full  of  dear  hopes — And  shall  I  desert  them  and  be  miserable  ? 
"no;  I  will  not. — Hence  traitor  !  quickly  from  my  sight,  thou  that  persuadest  me  to  it,  or  the 
"sword  thou  wouldst  have  me  draw  against  my  best  friends  shall  this  instant  open  a  passage  to 
"thy  insidious  heart.  I  know  no  enemy  but  thee  who  striv'st  to  seduce  me  from  my  happiness, 
"  which  is  wrap't  in  those  my  relations  &  acquaintances. — What  tho'  they  are  English,  &  I  of  a 
"different  extraction  from  them?  so  am  I  from  thee  &  thy  busy  countrymen.  The  generous 
"people  among  whom  I  live  have  admitted  me  to  an  equal  sareh  of  their  high  privileges,  &  I 
"can  have  no  interest  which  they  have  not : — I  feci  I  am  happy  in  what  I  enjoy  at  present; 
"what  can  I  more?  but,  by  the  change  thou  striv'st  in  vain  to  make  me  risk,  I  can  only  hope 
"to  be  so." 

It  was  intermarrying  in  this  manner  that  saved  the  infant  Roman  State  from  a  dreadful  war, 
&  occasioned  the  incorporation  of  two  different  nations.  And  the  neglecting  to  concert  proper 
measures  for  more  frequent  intermarriages  between  the  Scots  &>  Picts  hindered  them  from  ever 
incorporating;  so  that  it  was  a  fatal  resolution  which  Buchanan  tells  us  the  latter  entered  into— 
ProvidcnJum  ne per egrini  secum post  miscerentur.  The  nations  pursued  one  another  with  inex- 
tinguishable hatred  till  the  Picts  were  totally  extirpated. 

But  besides  these  advantages  already  mentioned,  by  means  of  a  right  education  of  the 
vulgar,  such  a  spirit  may  be  promoted  thro'  all  ranks,  as  is  best  suited  to  the  particular  genius 
of  every  government  in  our  colonies.  Every  government  has  its  fundamental  active  principle, 
as  every  man  is  thought  to  have  his  ruling  passion,  as  the  spring  of  his  actions ;  &  therefor,  as 
the  B.  de  Montesquieu  well  observes — "The  laws  of  education  being  the  first  impressions  we 
"receive,  &  those  that  prepare  us  for  civil  life,  each  (school  or)  particular  family  should  be 
"governed  according  to  the  plan  of  the  great  family  that  comprehends  the  whole." — Nor  is 
this  all.  Education,  when  thus  uniformly  conducted  thro'  a  whole  country,  in  subordination  to 
the  public  sense,  may  not  only  be  made  to  preserve  the  grand  principle  of  government,  what- 
ever it  is,  but  also  to  mend  or  change  a  wrong  principle. 


543 

Thus,  if  the  spirit  of  a  people  is  too  pacific,  as  in  some  of  our  colonies,  it  maybe  gradually 
changed  by  a  right  institution  of  the  laws  of  education.  Means  may  be  contrived  to  fire  the 
boy-senator  by  displaying  the  illustrious  actions  of  the  greatest  heroes  in  the  sacred  struggle  for 
freedom.  He  may  be  rationally  convinced  that  without  self-defence  society  cannot  long  subsist 
in  the  centre  of  aspiring  foes. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  the  spirit  of  a  people  is  too  martial  or  barbarous,  as  was  the  case  of 
Numa's  Romans,  such  a  spirit,  by  means  of  education,  as  well  as  by  his  religious  Polity,  may  be 
softened  &:  tempered.  Youth  may  be  taught  to  relish  the  softer  arts,  &  take  enjoyments  in 
peace  &  virtuous  industry,  far  superior  to  those  that  are  falsely  look'd  for  in  the  unbounded 
licentiousness  of  war.  They  may  be  early  taught  to  abhor  offensive  war,  &  to  esteem  a  brave  & 
steady  self-defence  (&  that  too  after  all  possible  forbearance)  all  that  is  consistent  with  the  gen- 
eral ties  of  humanity.  Indeed  there  is  little  danger  any  of  our  colonies  should  be  soon  seized 
with  the  madness  of  heroism,  which  has  deluged  the  earth  with  so  much  human  blood.  The 
heart  must  have  been  long  petrifi'd  &  train'd  up  in  deeds  of  violence,  before  one  can  think  of 
attacking  peaceful,  unsuspecting  neighbors,  thro'  mere  lust  of  rule,  without  being  eternally 
pierced  with  all  the  unsufferable  pangs  of  wounded  humanity  ! 

It  was  by  a  scheme  of  polity  similar  to  this  sort  of  education,  that  the  wise  JVuma  blended 
a  vast  mixed  multitude  into  one  social  body.  When  he  was  called  to  the  administration  his 
country  was  in  a  condition  as  unformed  &  feverish  as  the  most  uncemented  of  our  colonies. 
Like  them,  infant  Rome  had  opened  her  sheltering  arms,  inviting  alike  the  poor  &  rich,  the 
industrious  &  idle,  the  good  &  the  profligate,  of  all  countries  to  her  embrace.  Thus  her  small 
territory  was  soon  deluged  with  a  promiscuous  multitude,  differing  in  all  things,  language,  man- 
ners, &  extraction. 

The  great  lawgiver  saw  this,  &  knew  how  great  address  as  well  as  labor  would  be  required 
to  form  his  infant  country.  This  made  him  shrink  from  the  toils  of  government  (now-a-days  so 
passionately  courted)  &  earnestly  desire  to  close  his  days  in  his  philosophic  retirement.  At 
length,  however,  he  was  prevailed  upon  to  sacrifice  private  ease  to  public  good.  Quitting  his 
little  farm,  he  came  to  his  high  station,  breathing  justice,  breathing  peace,  breathing  piety; 
merciful  of  disposition,  serene  of  temper,  beneficent  of  heart,  plain  &  sanctified  of  manners,  the 
favorite  of  heaven.  He  well  knew  that  a  small  territory  of  people  vigorously  &  uniformly 
pursuing  a  common  interest,  is  a  body  far  stronger  &  more  powerful,  than  the  greatest  numbers, 
dissipated,  uncemented  &  differing  in  all  pursuits.  Hence  he  made  it  the  invariable  object  of 
his  administration  rather  to  incorporate  the  mixt  multitude,  &  form  their  temper  to  a  corres- 
pondence with  that  sort  of  government  he  proposed  among  them,  than  to  acquire  any  acces- 
sion of  territory  or  people.  With  this  view  he  dexterously  employed  the  mild  &  social  aspects 
of  religion  to  tame  &  humanize  the  savage  nature,  to  open  the  reserved  heart,  &  wake  public 
affections.  And  indeed  the  religion  he  instituted  was  marvellously  adapted  to  these  benificent 
purposes.  Consisting  of  many  public  festivals,  it  frequently  congregated  the  people  &  brought 
them  acquainted.  In  these  festal  moments  of  mirth  &  sacrifice,  they  felt  their  hearts  open 
towards  one  another;  distrust  &  reserve  were  laid  aside;  strict  friendships  were  formed,  &  the 
social  flame  catch' d  from  breast  to  breast. — Then  would  they  talk,  exultant,  of  freedom,  pros- 
perity, a  common-weal,  &  a  common-country  !  And  while  these  sacred  names  rushed  upon  their 
thoughts,  every  narrow  distinction  gave  room  &  was  at  last  totally  expelled  by  them.     Differ- 


544 

ence  of  manners,  language,  &  extraction,  was  now  no  more.  Every  one  saw  himself  leagued 
with  his  neighbor,  wherever  born,  in  the  common  interest  of  Rome,  &  looked  down  with  con- 
tempt on  every  mean  distinction  that  would  drive  this  interest  from  the  heart.  The  rising 
generation  acquired  a  conformity  in  all  things.  No  distinction  remained  but  between  a  vir- 
tuous and  vicious  citizen.  No  contest  but  between  Romans  6°  Romans  concerning  their 
preheminence  in  public  worth.  —  Cives  cum  civibus  de  virtute  certabunt.     Sal. 

From  what  has  been  said,  it  appears  that,  in  the  present  circumstances  of  the  people  under 
consideration,  nothing  but  a  common  education  of  youth,  can  obviate  the  inconveniences  justly 
dreaded.  It  is  only  this  that  can  incorporate  them,  by  teaching  them  a  common  language, 
giving  rise  to  acquaintances  &  intermarriages,  influencing  their  genius;  &  preserving,  forming, 
or  altering  the  principle  of  Government  among  them  as  public  weal  requires. 

The  next  things  are  the  method  of  education,  the  government  of  the  Schools,  &  the  means 
of  supplying  &  maintaining  them  in  proper  masters. 

The  method  of  education  is  a  point  too  important  to  be  handled  in  the  bounds  of  this 
letter,  &  shall  be  the  subject  of  a  separate  essay.  It  is  obvious  that  it  must  be  calculated  rather 
to  make  good  subjects  than  what  is  called  good  scholars.  The  English  language,  together  with 
writing,  something  of  figures,  &  a  short  system  of  religious  &  civil  truths  &  duties,  in  the 
Socratic  or  catechetic  way,  is  all  the  education  necessary  to  the  people.  These  things  therefore 
must  be  left  open  to  everybody  without  price ;  but  all  other  less  necessary  branches  of  liter- 
ature may  have  quarterly  fees  laid  upon  them,  to  prevent  the  vulgar  from  spending  more  time 
at  school  than  is  necessary.  It  is  generally  thought  that  the  knowledge  of  ethics,  civil  & 
religious,  is  not  to  be  acquired  without  languages,  &  laborious  discussions,  for  which  the  bulk  of 
mankind  has  neither  leisure  nor  capacity.  But  nothing  can  be  a  greater  mistake  than  this ;  & 
it  is  to  be  feared  nothing  has  contributed  more  to  the  present  general  corruption  of  morals. 
Can  it  be  possible  that  those  great  Truths  &  Duties,  the  knowledge  &  practice  of  which  God 
intended  as  the  means  of  making  man  happy  &  keeping  Society  together,  are  any  other  way 
above  the  vulgar  reach,  than  as  they  have  been  made  so  by  the  imaginary  distinctions  &  per- 
plexing Reasonings  of  Men  themselves  ?  No.  These  truths  &  duties  are  founded  on  the  most 
simple  principles,  the  most  obvious  relations,  &  from  thence  may  be  deduced  at  no  great 
expence  of  Time  or  Genius,  without  the  aid  of  learned  languages  and  laborious  researches.  The 
general  principles  of  our  common  Christianity  may,  in  a  very  short  Compass  be  laid  before 
youth,  &  the  truths  &  duties  thence  resulting  press'd  home  upon  them  as  truly  amiable  for  their 
own  intrinsic  beauty  &  happy  tendency.  The  use  &  end  of  Society,  the  different  forms  of 
Government,  the  excellency  of  our  own,  with  all  the  horrors  of  civil  &  religious  tyranny,  may 
be  displayed  to  them  ;  and  from  thence  all  social  duties  might  be  deduced,  by  a  chain  of  the 
most  clear  &  natural  consequences.  All  this  might  be  taught  at  leisure  hours  by  a  good  master, 
during  the  3  or  4  years  the  people  otherwise  spend  in  learning  to  read,  write,  &c;  &  it  is  hardly 
to  be  conceived  how  much  such  early  impressions  would  contribute  to  make  good  men  as  well 
as  good  subjects.  It  is  of  little  importance  to  Society  how  many  recluses  should  know  the  theory 
of  ethics,  when  they  seldom  launch  into  busy  scenes  of  real  life  ;  but  the  virtue  &  practice  of 
the  vulgar  is  the  strength  of  the  state,  so  that  without  making  these  topics,  above  mentioned, 
a  part  of  education,  such  schools  will  be  wanting  in  the  main  point,  the  forming  good  Subjects. 


545 

2.  With  regard  to  the  Government  of  the  Schools,  it  is  of  the  greatest  use,  in  smaller 
Societies,  where  it  is  practicable,  to  have  all  places  of  Education  uniformly  govern'd  by  one 
sett  of  men,  that  so  youth  may  be  everywhere  trained  up  in  subordination  to  the  public  Sense. 
This  trust  can  only  be  executed  by  men  residing  on  the  spot,  &  therefore  6  or  7  principal  Gen- 
tlemen in  Pennsylvania  may  be  appointed  Trustees-general  for  providing  foreign  protestants 
in  that  &  other  Colonies,  with  Ministers  and  Schoolmasters. 

One  or  more  of  these  Trustees,  is  once  every  year  to  visit  all  the  Schools  &  examine  the 
Scholars,  giving  a  small  premium  to  one  or  more  boys,  born  of  German  Parents,  who  shall  best 
deliver  an  oration  in  English,  or  read  an  English  Author,  nearest  to  the  right  pronunciation. 
Let  another  premium  be  given  to  that  boy,  whether  English  or  German,  who  shall  best  answer 
to  some  questions  concerning  religious  &  civil  duties,  on  the  plan  already  sketched  out. — And 
now,  what  a  glorious  Sight  will  it  be  to  behold  the  Proprietor,  governor,  or  other  great  men,  in 
their  summer  Excursions  into  the  country,  entering  the  schools  &  performing  their  part  of  the 
visitation.  This  will  be  teaching  indeed  like  those  ancient  Fathers  of  their  Country,  who 
deign'd  to  superintend  the  execution  of  the  laws  they  made  for  the  education  of  youth,  as  the 
rising  hope  of  the  State. 

But  further,  as  the  success  of  all  Schools  depends  on  good  discipline,  &  keeping  up  emula- 
tion, these  Trustees-general  should  substitute  six  deputy-trustees  for  every  School,  3  of  them 
being  English,  &  3  Germans,  for  the  sake  of  forming  more  connexions.  These  deputies  should 
visit  the  Schools  &  bestow  premia  as  above,  one  every  month,  transmitting  an  account  of  such 
visitations  to  the  Trustees-general,  &  these  last  sending  once  or  twice  a-year  an  account  of  the 
whole  state  of  the  Schools  to  the  Society  in  London.  This  scheme  cannot  fail  of  helping  up 
discipline  &  emulation. 

3.  The  Masters  for  such  Schools  can  only  be  found  &  educated  in  America.  They  must 
understand  the  English  &  high  Dutch,  with  Mathematics,  Geography,  Drawing,  History, 
Ethics,  with  the  Constitutions  &  interests  of  the  Colonies.  Now,  strangers  cannot  be  thus 
qualified.  For  tho'  they  understood  both  languages,  we  could  not  be  sure  of  their  principles ; 
nor  would  they  for  several  years  know  the  Genius  of  the  people,  or  correspond  with  the  general 
Scheme  of  Polity  in  the  education  of  youth ;  nay,  they  might  be  sent  from  the  palatinate  or 
Switzerland 'to  counterwork  it,  &  defeat  the  desired  Coalition.  Clergymen,  Schoolmasters,  Physi- 
cians, &c,  have  a  natural  influence  over  the  people  in  the  Country,  &  the  constant  importation 
of  strangers  of  these  professions  is  unpolitical.  Such  Men  should  be  educated  under  the  Eye 
of  the  public  in  the  colonies  where  they  are  wanted ;  &  thus  we  will  not  only  be  certain  of 
their  principles,  but  also  have  them  complete  masters  both  of  the  English  &  German 
languages. 

It  is  a  happy  circumstance,  in  Pennsylvania  in  particular,  that  there  is  a  florishing  Semi- 
nary, where  such  men  may  be  educated ;  &  happier  still  that  the  honWe  proprietary  is  to  make  a 
foundation  for  maintaining  &  educating  constantly  some  promising  Children  of  poor  Germans 
as  a  Supply  of  well  principled  Schoolmasters,  that  must  be  acceptable  among  their  friends. 

4.  With  regard  to  the  maintenance  of  these  instructors,  that  must  come  in  a  great 
measure  from  you.  'Tis  true  monies  already  collected  in  Holland,  England,  &  Scotland  will  be 
no  more  than  sufficient  for  a  fair  beginning ;  but  you  cannot  fail  of  success  in  your  application 
to  the  public  Charity,  to  enable  you  to  prosecute  your  Undertaking — an  undertaking  of  far 

69 


546 

greater  importance  to  the  British — the  Protestant  Interest — than  can  be  well  imagined  at  this 
distance. 

Figure  to  yourslves  upwards  of  100,000  Strangers  settled  in  our  territory,  chiefly  by  them- 
selves, &  multiplying  fast ; — Strangers  indeed  to  every  thing  of  ours ;  strangers  to  our  Laws  and 
manners;  strangers  to  the  sacred  sound  of  liberty  in  the  land  where  they  were  born,  &  unin- 
structed  in  the  right  use  &  value  of  it  in  the  country  where  they  now  enjoy  it ;  utterly  ignorant 
&  apt  to  be  misled  by  our  unceasing  enemies  &  surrounded  with  such  enemies  to  mislead  them  ; 
&,  what  is  worst  of  all,  in  danger  of  sinking  deeper  &  deeper  every  day  into  these  deplorable 
circumstances,  as  being  almost  entirely  destitute  of  instructors,  &  unacquainted  with  our  lan- 
guage, so  that  it  is  scarce  possible  to  remove  any  prejudices  they  once  entertain.  Nay  such 
prejudices  may  be  daily  increased  among  them,  unknown  to  us.  They  import  many  foreign 
books ;  and,  in  Pennsylvania,  have  their  Printing  houses,  their  newspapers,  and  of  late  their 
Bonds  &  other  legal  writings,  in  their  own  language.  In  courts  of  Judicature,  Interpreters  are 
constantly  wanted,  thro'  the  vast  increase  of  German  business,  &  may  soon  be  wanted  in  the 
Assembly  itself,  to  tell  one  half  the  Legislature  what  the  other  half  says. 

If  these  things  alarm  our  ears,  it  will  also  awaken  our  pity  to  think  we  hear  the  following 
daily  lamentations  of  these  poor  people — 

"Alas!  how  long  shall  we  be  the  most  miserable  of  mortals?  Driven  from  our  friends 
"  &  natal  soil  by  the  fiery  scourge  of  persecution,  we  committed  ourselves  to  the  mercy  of  the 
"  Seas,  &  sought  a  better  home  in  an  unknown  corner  of  the  World.  We  penetrated  the 
*'  howling  wilderness,  &  sat  down  in  places  before  untrod  by  Christian  foot,  where  only  savage 
"beasts  prowled  round  us,  content  to  suffer  the. worst  of  difficulties,  for  the  sake  of  religious 
"liberty  &  a  good  conscience.  But,  O  deplorable  situation!  we  are  again  threatened  with  all 
"  those  dangers  from  which  we  fled.  On  the  one  side  Popery,  &  and  on  the  other  heathen- 
"  ignorance,  make  dreadful  approaches  towards  us.  The  French-Germans,  well  supply'd  with 
"missionaries,  are  our  near  neighbors;  and  if  we  should  escape  their  snares,  who  shall  save  our 
"Children — Our  Children!  O  piercing  thought!  did  we  mention  our  Children?  These 
"helpless  innocents  are  the  rising  hopes]  of  a  large  branch  of  the  Protestant  interest,  coming 
"  forward  into  the  world  like  grasshoppers  in  multitude.  Upon  their  instruction  it  greatly 
"depends  whether  our  heathen  neighbors,  in  whose  original  soil  we  dwell,  shall  at  last  embrace 
"  the  truth,  &  flourish  long  in  all  that  exalts,  all  that  embellishes  Society;  or  whether,  on  the 
"other  hand,  a  great  part  of  the  new  world  shall  fall  either  back  to  its  original  barbarism  or 
"under  the  dreary  reign  of  popery.  But  alas!  we  see  our  dear  little  ones,  whose  fate  is  to 
"decide  this,  rising  round  us  like  wild  branches,  without  one  hand  to  form  or  guide  them. 
"Their  tender  Souls  ripen  only  in  ignorance  &  are  exposed  an  early  prey.  We  ourselves  are 
"unable  to  instruct  them,  and  are  moreover  obliged  to  face  the  piercing  North,  or  sultry 
"South,  toil  all  the  day  long,  &  to  provide  for  their  infant  calls  of  hunger,  without  having  one 
"moment  to  spare  for  the  nurture  of  their  tender  Minds." 

This  is  the  alarming  situation,  &  these  the  moving  lamentations  of  those  unhappy  Emi- 
grants. To  you,  ye  noble  Patriots !  they  address  themselves.  To  you  their  helpless  Children 
lisp  their  tender  plaint  thro'  my  Pen.  And  surely  we  ought  to  regard  them  from  Motives  of 
honor,  humanity  &  good  policy.  These  people  are  now  become  British  subjects,  &  have  many 
shining  virtues.     Their  industry  &  frugality  are  exemplary.     They  are  excellent  husbandmen  & 


547 

contribute  greatly  to  the  improvement  of  a  new  Country.  They  possess  a  vast  tract  of  our 
territory,  &  by  proper  instruction,  might  be  made  a  great  support  of  trade  &  agriculture  in  our 
Colonies,  &  thus  encrease  the  riches  &:  strength  of  Britain. 

What  a  patriot  work  must  it  then  be,  to  contrive  means  for  making  them  flourish  long  with 
ourselves  in  well  ordered  society;  to  incorporate  &  mingle  them  in  equal  privileges  with  the 
sons  of  freedom ;  to  teach  them  to  value  &  exult  in  the  conscious  enjoyment  of  these  priv- 
ileges, &  make  a  provision  for  improving  their  natures  and  training  them  up  for  eternal  scenes  ! 

This  is  not  the  work  of  any  particular  party.  It  is  a  British  work.  It  does  not  regard  a 
handful  of  Men  of  this  or  that  denomination,  happily  escaped  the  jaws  of  persecution ;  but  its 
success  is  to  determine  whether  an  incredible  number  of  fellow-protestants,  of  many  different 
denominations,  shall  fall  into  the  grossest  ignorance ;  shall  be  seduced  by  our  indefatigable 
rivals ;  shall  live  in  a  separate  body ;  shall  turn  our  trade  out  of  its  proper  channel  by  their 
foreign  connexions,  &  perhaps  at  last  give  some  of  our  Colonies  laws  and  language ; — Or, 
whether,  on  the  other  hand,  they  shall  adopt  our  language,  our  manners,  our  interests,  &  incor- 
porate with  us  in  one  enlightened  happy  Society. 

Upon  the  whole,  those  who  delight  in  Offices  of  Charity,  could  never  have  found  a  more 
useful  or  meritorious  way  of  bestowing  it  than  upon  the  instruction  of  such  a  vast  encreasing 
multitude  of  young  &  old  Subjects,  in  order  to  make  them  good  men  &  useful  members  of  the 
community.  The  effects  of  such  a  Charity  will  be  felt  thro'  many  a  brightening  ^Era,  &  roll'd 
down  in  a  tide  of  happiness,  gently  diffusing  itself  to  glad  the  hearts  of  unborn  millions,  in  the 
untutor'd  parts  of  the  earth. 

Thus,  instead  of  hearing  the  sound  of  lamentation  &  sorrow  among  a  vast  people,  wander- 
ing without  Shepherds  in  a  dry  &  barren  land,  we  shall  hear  the  voice  of  Joy  among  them. 
They  &  their  posterity,  thro'  long-succeeding  generations,  shall  be  happy  &  enlightened ;  so 
that,  in  the  sublime  strains  of  the  Prophet,  The  wilderness  and  solitary  place  shall  be  glad  for 
them ;  and  the  desert  shall  rejoice  &  blossom  as  the  rose. 

I  hope  to  be  a  pleased  spectator  of  part  of  this  happiness ;  and  if  I  have  been  too  much 
warm'd  with  the  prospect  of  it,  take  it  as  a  sure  pledge  that  I  will  decline  no  labor,  as  oft  as 
yrou  honor  me  with  an  opportunity  of  helping  to  bring  it  about.     I  am, 

My  Lords  &  Gentlemen, 

Your  most  faithful,  humble  Serv', 

WILL.  SMITH. 


REMARKS   BY   HIS   GRACE   OF  CANTERBURY  (ABP.  HERRING)  ON  A  PAPER  SENT  HIM    BY 
MR.  SMITH,  CONCERNING  THE  GERMAN  EMIGRANTS  IN  PENNSYLVANIA,  &c* 

The  Design  of  helping  the  German  Emigrants  in  his  Majesty's  Colonies  seems  as  great  and  as 
necessary  to  be  put  in  Execution  as  any  that  was  ever  laid  before  the  British  Nation,  and  the  neg- 
lect of  it  may  occasion  such  mischief  to  us  as  is  inconceivable  and  may  probably  be  Irreparable. 

To  recomm'd  it  therefore  to  the  Publick,  is  on  All  accounts  not  only  expedient  but  neces- 
sary ;  And  the  method  of  doing  it  will  be  in  as  short  and  comprehensive  a  way  as  possible. 

*  From  the  Smith  MSS.,  endorsed  "  Archb'p  Herring's  Remarks  on  the  Scheme  for  Instructing  the  German 
Emigrants." 


548 

i. — To  State  the  Fact  and  make  it  Clear  by  Authentic  Truths,  that  such  Numbers  of 
Germans  have  emigrated  as  are  reported;  if  not  so  many,  what  the  Numbers  are. 

2. — To  Inform  the  world  where  in  particular  they  came  from;  what  was  the  cause  of  their 
Removal ;  of  what  sort  the  People  are  as  to  Religion,  Tempers,  Circumstances,  Occupations, 
&c,  and  for  what  Reasons  they  quitted  their  native  Country. 

3. — To  point  out  their  present  place  and  Situation  ;  the  Country  and  People  which  they 
border  upon ;  in  what  Manner  they  Subsist  at  present ;  what  provision  is  made  for  their  due 
Government,  and  what  for  the  exercise  of  their  Religion.  These  things  and  others  of  equal  con- 
sequence being  clearly  and  precisely  known,  they  will  all  of  them  probably  furnish  convincing 
Arguments  that  they  are  Objects  highly  worthy  our  Attention.  It  will  then  be  necessary  to  be  as 
exact  in  Pointing  out  the  Methods  which  become  us  as  Christians,  as  Men,  as  Britons,  to  pursue, 
in  order  to  lay  the  foundation  of  their  becoming  a  good  People  and  usefull  Subjects  of  our  Col- 
onies and  Government. 

How  it  may  be  requisite  to  show. 

1. — What  has  been  done  for  them?  How  incomprehensive  the  Means  of  private  Collec- 
tions are  to  Attain  fully  so  Great  and  desirable  an  End,  which  seems  worthy  the  Immediate 
care  of  some  Parliamentary  Provision. 

2. — To  suggest  a  Method  of  ranging  &  sorting  the  great  number  of  People,  so  as  to  render 
them  Governable  and  tractable  in  a  right  way  by  dividing  them  into  districts  under  the  inspec- 
tion of  proper  Magistrates,  the  easy  controul  of  Laws,  and  the  Institution  of  Christian  Pastors 
and  Schoolmasters. 

3. — To  show  the  necessity  of  a  regular  Education  form'd  upon  a  Large  and  Generous  plan 
of  religious  Liberty,  consistent  with  the  national  Establishment  of  the  Mother  Country,  to 
instill  and  propagate  the  notion  that  these  Germans  are  to  become  one  with  us,  and  that  it  were 
best  for  both  to  have,  in  time,  one  common  Language.  This  will  be  the  natural  effect  of  a 
common  Education,  which  of  course  leads  men  on  to  Friendships,  Intermarriages,  and  a  gen- 
eral blending  of  Interests.  Care  should  be  taken  that  there  be  no  affectation,  in  their  Educa- 
tion, of  aiming  at  high  degrees  of  science,  but  that  their  Religion  be  plain  and  Practicable, 
and  such  as  all  Christians  agree  in;  and  that  their  knowledge  be  suited  to  their  occupation. 
There  will  be  room  enough  left  under  these  general  regulations  to  attend  to  any  distinguish'd 
genius. 

The  Arguments  to  enforce  this  good  Plan  will  be  drawn,  not  from  general  considerations, 
but  the  particular  interests  of  our  Colonists,  which  would  bleed  under  the  Mischief,  if  such  a 
Number  of  Sober  and  useful  protestant  People  be  Abandoned  to  be  made  the  Prey  of  French 
Papists  and  Jesuits,  or  become  Mixed  with  the  Tribes  of  Indians  who  are  under  the  pay  and 
influence  of  the  French. 


In  connection  with  these  papers  we  would  add,  from  the  Smith  MSS.,  the  following  letters 
and  documents  relating  to  the  case  of  the  German  Schools,  the  College,  and  the  imprisonment 
of  Mr.  Smith,  to  which  references  already  have  been  made.  We  append  these  papers  in  their 
chronological  order.  They  incidentally  or  collectively  furnish  no  little  information  respecting 
the  progress  of  the  Church  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the  abundant  labors  of  its  ministers  and  mem- 


549 

bers  in  every  good  word  and  work.  Further  notices  of  these  interesting  events  of  Mr.  Smith's 
career  will  be  found  in  full  in  "A  Memoir  of  the  Rev.  William  Smith,  D.D.,  Provost  of  the 
College,  Academy  and  Charitable  School  of  Philadelphia,  by  Charles  J.  Stille.  Philadelphia : 
1869."  8vo,  pp.  63;  and  in  the  following,  among  other  works  viz.,  Hazard's  Colonial  Re- 
cords, VIII.  pp.  11,  17,  438-442  ;  IX.  611,  612  ;  XI.  284,  525  ;  Pennsylvania  Archives,  IV.  475  ; 
VI.  621;  VII.  259;  Register  of  Pennsylvania,  I.  63;  II.  269;  III.  26;  American  Magazine, 
January,  1758;  Journals  of  the  House  of  Assembly  of  Penna.,  1757,  1758;  Amer.  Archives, 
Fourth  Series,  I.  340,  427,  428,  467-472,  555 ;  III.  1711  ;  Sprague's  Annals  Amer.  Epis.  Pulpit, 
89,  158-163,  209,  210,  246,  248,  272,  273,  285,  342;  Allen's  Notices  of  Maryland  Clergy,  3-31  ; 
Thomas's  Hist,  of  Printing,  II.  338-340;  Chandler's  Life  of  President  Johnson,  87,  176,  177; 
Meade's  Old  Churches,  I.  46,  47;  Dorr's  Hist,  of  Christ  Church,  116,  124,  125,  128-130, 
143-145,  147;  Stevens's  Anal.  Index  to  N.  J.  Col.  Docs.,  468. 


REV.    WILLIAM    SMITH    TO   ABP.    HERRING. 

Philadelphia,  Octr  19th,  1754. 
My  Lord, 

I  now  make  use  of  the  Liberty  your  Grace  permitted  me.  At  present,  however,  I  cannot 
enter,  as  I  intend  afterwards  to  do,  upon  the  State  of  our  Colonies,  &  the  proposed  Schools 
among  the  Germans,  both  which  are  become  very  interesting.  As  the  French  are  daily  En- 
croaching behind  us,  &  taking  possession  of  the  vast  fruitful  Country  upon  the  Ohio,  they  will 
be  able  to  offer  our  Germans  easy  Settlements,  which  these  last  will  accept  of,  as  they  are  an 
ignorant  People,  that  know  no  Difference  between  French  &  English  Government,  being 
wanton  with  Liberty,  uninstructed  in  the  Use  of  it,  &  placing  all  Happiness  in  possessing  a 
large  Piece  of  Land.  Now  this  will  be  a  far  greater  Advantage  to  the  French  than  peopling 
their  Colonies  from  Europe  (which  the  Severity  of  their  Government  would  never  suffer  them 
to  accomplish) ;  For  however  many  by  these  means  they  take  from  us,  so  many  they  add  to 
themselves,  which  is  a  double  Advantage  to  them,  especially  as  such  Hands  are  old  Inhabitants, 
&  accustomed  to  the  Climate.  This  is  a  scheme  which  the  French  for  a  Number  of  Years  have 
been  pursuing  to  establish  their  Empire  in  America.  The  Indians  are  going  over  to  the  French 
in  these  Parts,  because  the  latter,  having  Possession  by  means  of  their  forts,  can  protect  them ; 
&  whenever  they  come  a  little  nearer,  the  Germans  will  submit,  &  go  over  also  for  Protection, 
caring  for  nothing  but  to  keep  possession  of  the  Estates  they  have  settled. 

Now,  I  can  see  nothing  that  can  prevent  these  dreadful  Calamities,  or  subject  these  back- 
Settlers  to  any  Form  of  Government  (as  they  are  like  to  degenerate  into  Savages)  but  to  fix 
Schools  &  a  regular  Clergy  among  them,  in  order  to  open  their  eyes  to  the  Blessings  they  enjoy 
&  the  Dangers  they  incur  by  a  Change.  I  wish,  then,  the  honMe  Society  for  Propagating  the 
Gospel,  instead  of  sending  more  Missionaries  to  New  England,  where  they  are  not  wanted  so 
much,  would  erect  some  Missions  among  those  ^a^-Settlers  I  speak  of,  who  are  quite  destitute 
&  in  great  Danger,  as  bordering  upon  the  French  &  the  Indians.  The  Bearer,  Mr.  Barton, 
comes  with  a  Petition  from  a  vast  Number  of  these  back-Settlers,  but  I  am  in  Doubt  whether 
the  Society  will  make  a  new  Mission  for  him.     If  he  has  any  Difficulty  I  have  desired  him  to 


55o 

apply  to  your  Grace ;    otherwise  not  to  be  troublesome,  as  your  Time  &  health  are  of  the 
greatest  Public  Importance. 

For  the  same  Reasons  the  proposed  Schools  among  these  back-Settlers  is  a  very  important 
Undertaking,  as  your  Grace  was  thoroughly  convinced,  when  you  generously  contributed  to 
the  Support  of  them.  They  are  indeed  so  important,  that  we  are  entirely  of  your  Grace's 
Opinion  "  that  they  should  be  made  the  Object  of  some  parliamentary  Provision,"  &  we  humbly 
hope  your  Grace  may  be  a  great  Means  of  making  them  so,  for  tho'  private  Contributions  may 
begin,  they  cannot  long  enough  be  supported  on  such  a  precarious  Footing.  We  have  a  good 
Prospect  of  their  Success ;  and  as  I  have  been  appointed  a  Trustee,  &  chosen  Secretary  by  the 
other  Trustees,  for  the  management  of  the  Scheme,  I  have  transmitted  Mr.  Chandler  a  full 
Account  of  our  Progress. 

As  your  Grace  has  condescended  to  peruse  some  other  Compositions  of  mine,  I  have 
enclosed  one  of  my  first  Sermons,  which  I  could  not  Avoid  Printing,  tho'  made  at  a  few  Hours' 
Warning.  It  had  a  very  great  Effect  from  the  Pulpit,  &  has  been  well  received  from  the  Press. 
In  Compositions  of  this  kind,  I  carefully  avoid  those  Luxuriances  which  your  Grace  kindly 
blamed  under  the  name  of  agreeable. 

I  hope,  &  pray  that  this  may  find  your  Grace's  Health  perfectly  restored.  Last  Post,  Mr. 
DeLancy  was  well,  &  Easy  in  his  Government.  I  wish  it  may  be  long  his.  Should  your 
Grace  Ever  think  it  worth  while  to  honor  me  with  any  Commands,  Mr.  Millar  will  find  a  Con- 
veyance ;  or  Mr.  Penn,  whom  I  have  frequent  Letters  from,  as  he  never  misses  an  Opportunity 
of  writing  to  somebody  or  other  here. 

I  beg  Pardon  for  the  Length  of  this  Letter.  I  did  not  intend  to  give  Your  Grace  the 
Trouble  of  turning  over  the  Leaf  when  I  begun ;  but  as  it  comes  from  a  great  Distance  I  hope 
I  shall  be  excused. 

With  the  sincerest  Gratitude  &  Respect,  I  remain, 
My  Lord, 

Your  Grace's  Most  dutiful  Son,  & 

Obedient,  humble  Servant, 

WILL.  SMITH.* 

To  his  Grace,  the  Lord  Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 

P.  S.  The  rev.  Mr.  Schlatter,  who  is  safely  returned,  just  now  called  upon  me,  &  in  the 
tenderest  manner  begs  me  to  present  his  most  grateful  &  most  dutiful  Respects  to  your  Grace. 


THE  REV.  DR.  BEARCROFT  TO  REV.  WILLIAM  SMITH. 

London,  Charter-house,  Febr,  17,  1755. 
Revd  S", 

Mr.  Barton,  God  willing,  will  be  the  bearer  of  this,  having  happily  succeeded  in  his 
Petition  thro'  your  Recommendation,  &  that  of  those  other  worthy  Persons  who  bore  witness 
to  his  merit,  wch  from  the  proofs  of  his  Learning  &  good  Conduct  he  hath  by  no  means  lessen 'd 

*  From  the  original  draft. 


55i 

here,  &  I  make  no  doubt  but  he  will  prove  a  good  &  usefull  Missionary  in  your  Province,  wch  I 
am  very  sensible  the  back  parts  of  it  stand  very  much  in  need  of;  may  God  of  His  mercy  in  due 
time  supply  them  !  &  as  I  make  no  doubt  but  that  nursery  of  Learning,  over  wch  you  preside, 
will,  by  God's  Blessing  on  your  worthy  Endeavours  join'd  to  those  of  your  good  Brethren, 
hereafter  send  forth  Labourers  into  it.  I  thank  you  for  the  truely  pathetick  sermon  preached  by 
you  at  the  death  of  one  of  your  best  Pupils;  it  is  a  debt  we  must  sooner  or  later  all  pay,  &  may 
we  all  duely  think  of  it !  In  ye  mean  time  let  us  be  all  duely  carefull  in  our  several  Stations  to 
promote  true  Religion  here,  &  we  shall  reap  a  glorious  Recompence  hereafter. 
I  remain,  Sr, 

Your  affectionate  Servant,  & 

Brother  in  Christ, 

PHILIP  BEARCROFT. 

P.  S.     It  will  allways  give  me  pleasure  to  hear  of  your  Success  &  of  the  state  of  Learning 
&  Religion  in  your  Province. 

To  the  Revd  M".  Smith,  in  Philadelphia. 


THE  REV.  MR.  SMITH  TO  THE  REV.  SAMUEL  CHANDLER,  D.D.* 

Philadelphia,  Aprile,  1755. 
Rev.  dear  Sir, 

I  had  your  several  Favors  by  Mr.  Barton,  &  shall  lay  them  before  the  Trustees  general,  on 
the  Return  of  such  of  them  as  are  now  gone  to  Alexandria  in  Maryland,  to  assist  at  the  Con- 
gress between  General  Braddock,  &  the  several  Colony-Governors. 

All  Parties  continue  disposed  to  the  Schools  in  the  same  Manner  as  when  I  wrote  you  last. 
The  Calvinist-Ccetus  has  addressed  us  in  the  most  respectful  Manner,  &  seem  entirely  satis- 
fyed. 

At  the  Time  I  received  your  Orders,  we  had  about  eighteen  Petitions  for  Schools  before 
us,  &  had  agreed  to  grant  a  greater  Number  of  them  than  that  limited  in  your  Letter.  We 
must,  therefore,  to  save  our  Honor,  take  the  Liberty  to  depart  a  little  from  that  mode  of  appro- 
priating this  year's  Funds,  which  is  prescribed  in  your  Letter.  There  will  not  be  such  pressing 
Occasion  for  such  a  large  Number  of  Girl-Schools  at  first,  nor  perhaps  for  such  a  large  Sum  to 
the  Ministry,  many  of  whom  are  tolerably  provided  for.  We  hope,  therefore,  still  to  be  able  to 
maintain  twelve  Schools  for  Boys  this  Year,  without  passing  the  Bounds  you  have  fixed  in  the 
Expence.  As  the  Schools  are  the  main  Part  of  the  Design,  it  would  be  imprudent  to  throw  a 
Damp  upon  them  at  first  setting  out. 

I  sincerely  thank  you  for  your  Professions  of  Friendship  for  me.  I  have  had  many  In- 
stance of  the  Goodness  of  your  Heart,  &  shall  strive  for  a  Continuance  of  your  Favor,  by  those 
upright  Methods  which  first  recommended  me  to  it.  You  may  be  sure  I  will  very  readily 
benefit  myself  by  the  Proffer  you  make  of  your  good  Offices  for  me  in  England. — Whenever  you 

*  An  English  Dissenter  of  prominence,  and  Secretary  of  the  Trustees  of  the  German  Schools. 


552 

can  serve  me,  I  know  no  person  to  whom  I  would  sooner  lay  myself  under  Obligations.  Favors 
from  you  will  be  doubly  such.  The  Delicacy  of  your  Sentiments  will  never  permit  you  to  confer 
them,  with  the  too  common  Insolence  of  flattered  pride ;  and  the  Warmth  of  your  Affections 
will  bid  you  Share  the  Joy  you  Give. 

You  do  me  great  Honor  in  mentioning  my  Name  in  the  same  Line,  &  in  the  same  advan- 
tageous Light,  with  the  name  of  my  much  admired  Friend,  Mr.  Franklin — your  approbation  of 
my  Sermon  likewise  gives  me  a  sensible  Pleasure  ;  but  as  to  your  Apprehensions  that  we  are 
seducing  the  Masses  from  their  beloved  English  Haunts  to  our  American  Wilds,  and  your 
Threats  of  letting  in  the  French  upon  us,  to  drive  them  back  (seeing  their  coy  Ladyships  will 
never  deign  to  dwell  with  Slaves),  I  can  only  look  upon  it  as  a  Compliment ;  &  that  such  a 
refined  one  as  mocks  a  Reply. .  I  am  now  more  than  ever  convinced  that  you  are  in  no  Danger 
from  us  being  rivaled  in  the  Affections  of  those  fair  Ladies  you  mention  with  so  much  Tender- 
ness. In  vain  have  I  had  Recourse  to  all  the  Misses  of  my  Acquaintance.  I  can  find  none 
among  them  that  has  Warmth  of  Fancy  enough  to  return  your  Compliment  without  dis- 
gracing us. 

But  I  have  rambled  from  the  main  Purport  of  this  Letter,  which  was  not  to  enter  into  any 
private  Affairs  of  our  own,  but  to  make  known  to  you  the  State  of  the  Old  Presbyterian  Con- 
gregation in  this  City ;  the  members  of  which  have  lately  addressed  you,  to  provide  them  with 
a  Minister.  This  Letter  was  to  have  attended  their  Address ;  but  I  could  not,  at  that  Time, 
find  leisure. 

It  would  be  needless  to  give  you  a  minute  Account  of  the  Occasion  of  the  late  Separation 
among  the  Presbyterians  in  these  Colonies.  When  Mr.  Whitfield  first  came  to  these  Parts, 
among  several  of  his  Doctrines,  many  run  away  with  that  of  an  instantaneous  sort  of  Conversion 
or  new  Light,  the  Signs  of  which  were  Falling  into  Fits,  Faintings,  &c,  &c. — To  such  an 
enthusiastic  Pitch  many  well-meaning  Persons  of  a  warmer  Temper  could  no  Doubt  work 
themselves  up,  &  might,  perhaps,  mistake,  their  own  Enthusiasm  for  the  inward  Operations  of 
the  holy  Spirit.  But  Persons  of  a  cooler  &  more  sedate  Turn  could  not  believe  in  the  Possi- 
bility of  such  a  sudden  Change  from  the  most  vicious  to  the  most  virtuous  Course  of  Life, 
unless  by  a  Miracle,  which  was  not  to  be  expected  in  common  Cases.  Those  last  rather  be- 
lieved that  the  Spirit  of  God  cooperating  with,  and  strengthening,  our  honest  Endeavours,  the 
Heart  and  Affections  must  be  purified  and  rendered  fit  for  Heaven,  not  instantaneously,  but  by 
a  course  of  Holiness  stedfastly  persisted  in,  &  gradually  approaching  nearer  to  that  Degree  of 
Perfection  required  in  the  Gospel.  This,  in  the  ordinary  Course  of  Things,  they  considered  as 
the  subordinate  Means,  &  the  Redemption  by  Christ  as  the  meritorious  Cause  of  eternal  Sal- 
vation. 

Hence,  I  presume,  arose  the  original  Distinction  between  New  Light,  &  Old  Light  Presby- 
terians, by  which  the  two  Parties  are  now  vulgarly  denominated.  The  former  followed  Whit- 
field ;  and  he  &  they  did  not  fail  to  deal  Damnation  round  on  the  other  side,  as  well  as  on  all 
Persuasions  different  from  theirs.  But  tho'  this  begun  the  Difference,  it  was  widened  & 
continued  by  Matters  relating  to  Church  Government,  as  will  appear  in  the  Sequel. 

With  the  same  Degree  of  Extravagance  with  which  Whitfield  condemned  his  Adversaries,  he 
extolled  his  Adherents,  tho'  they  had  nothing  to  recommend  them  but  their  blind  Attachment 
to  his  Doctrines.     Among  others,  he  proposed  the  two  Tenncnts  &  some  others  to  his  Followers 


553 

in  this  City  as  the  only  Gospel  Ministers.  One  of  them  is  a  Man  completely  accomplished  in 
all  the  Degrees  of  Ignorance  &  Weakness.  The  other  I  need  not  tell  you  of.  He  is  the  same 
you  saw  in  the  Character  of  a  Sturdy  Beggar,  &  who  came  recommended  to  you  (as  you  told 
me)  under  the  uncommon  Name  of  Hell-fire  T- nt. 

Upon  the  Strength  of  Whitfield's  Recommendation  this  Man  left  his  little  Congregation  in 
New  Jersey  &  came  to  this  Town  an  itinerant,  as  it  was  thought,  on  his  Master's  Plan.  He  was 
sure  to  have  the  greater  Part  of  Whitfield's  Mob  after  him;  and  of  Course  more  than  one  half 
of  the  Presbyterian  Congregation  follow' d,  &  stuck  by  him,  as  he  professed  himself  a  Presby- 
terian.    Several  others  of  the  lower  Sort  did  the  same  from  other  Congregations. 

Tennent,  finding  he  was  like  to  have  a  greater  Harvest  in  Philadelphia  than  elsewhere, 
projected  &  accomplished  a  Settlement  for  Himself  in  this  City,  to  the  great  Disappointment 
(as  I  have  been  told)  of  Mr.  Whitfield,  who  expected  in  Tennent  an  Itinerant  only,  &  a  Man 
after  his  own  Heart. 

As  this  Settlement  was  a  Manifest  Intrusion  into  Mr.  Cross's  Congregation,  in  Contempt 
of  all  Order  &  Right,  Mr.  Tennent  had  no  way  to  justify  it  but  to  pretend  that  himself  & 
several  others  of  his  Kidney  who  made  the  like  Intrusions  &  Settlements  in  other  Places,  being 
a  Majority,  were  the  Synod,  &  those  who  adhered  to  the  old  Doctrines  were  Separatists.  In 
Consequence  of  this  the  New  Lights  associated  themselves  into  a  kind  of  independent  Synod, 
protests  were  entered,  pamphlets  published,  &  the  Difference  widened  without  any  probability 
of  a  Reunion,  but  by  the  entire  Submission  of  the  Tennents,  &c,  who  are  certainly  the  Separ- 
ating or  Seceding  party,  which  is  not  very  like  to  happen,  as  they  think  themselves  by  far  the 
strongest,  &  hope  soon  to  swallow  up  the  other  Side  by  their  Numbers. 

To  accomplish  this,  their  first  Method  was  to  take  Men  from  the  Plough  to  the  Pulpit  in 
a  few  Months,  by  which  Means  they  deluged  the  Country  with  their  Teachers,  having  no  higher 
Idea  of  the  sacred  Function  than  to  think  any  person  qualified  for  it  who  could  cant  out  a  few 
unintelligible  sounds  concerning  Conversion,  saving  Grace,  Reprobation,  Election,  &c. ;  without 
ever  striving  to  adorn  the  Heart  with  the  Christian  Virtues  of  Meekness,  Peace,  Charity,  Long- 
suffering,  Kindness,  and  Forgiveness.  On  the  contrary  these  Virtues,  altho'  some  of  the  brightest 
Ornaments  of  the  Christian  Character,  seemed  to  be  industriously  banished,  &  the  Souls  of  the 
People  soured,  by  the  Orthodox  Cursing,  Railing,  &  Anathematizing,  they  daily  heard  from 
the  Pulpit. 

Tho'  the  Party  were  thus  continually  encreasing  in  Numbers  &  Biggotry,  yet  they  soon 
began  to  think  that  they  never  could  establish  themselves  in  the  Opinion  of  the  world  without 
consulting  at  least  the  Appearance  of  human  Learning,  which  at  first  they  thought  unnecessary 
to  the  Character  of  a  Gospel-Preacher.  To  complete  their  Scheme,  therefore,  they  founded  a 
Seminary,  called  the  Jersey  College,  &  have  even  got  the  Dissenters  in  England  &  Scotland,  as 
you  know,  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  it,  though  a  Nursery  of  Separation  from  themselves. 
You  knew  the  design,  but  did  not  oppose  it,  being  pleased,  as  I  myself  was,  to  see  Learning 
encouraged  in  America,  in  any  Stands  whatever;  for  true  Learning,  if  they  have  Recourse  to 
it,  will  in  process  of  Time  bring  them  to  see  that  the  Essentials  of  Religion  do  not  consist  in 
any  of  those  little  party-Tenets  about  which  they  contend  so  warmly. 

But  in  the  mean  Time  the  old  Presbyterians  are  in  a  difficult  Situation.  It  would  be  giving 
up  the  Justice  of  their  Cause  should  they  accept  of  Ministers  from  a  Seminary  set  up  against 


554 

them,  &  they  would  in  a  few  years  be  entirely  lost  among  the  New  Party,  &  so  fall  into  the 
Trap  laid  for  them.  On  the  other  Hand,  they  have  no  Seminary  of  their  own  nearer  than 
New-haven  in  Connecticut,  &  with  the  small  Livings  (made  yet  smaller  by  their  Divisions)  they 
find  it  impossible  to  answer  the  growing  Calls  of  Congregations,  by  sending  to  G.  Britain  or 
Ireland  for  Ministers. 

To  redress  these  inconveniences,  some  of  them  have  spoke  to  me  about  a  project  for 
ingrafting  a  Seminary  upon  our  Philadelphia-College,  which  is  erected  upon  the  most  extensive 
&  catholic  Bottom.  The  Scheme  is  this.  They  propose  to  collect  about  12,  or  ^1400,  not 
to  be  laid  out  in  raising  superb  Edifices  like  their  Jersey-Brethren,  but  to  the  more  humane  & 
useful  Purposes  of  maintaining  yearly  6  or  7  poor  Students  of  Genius  &  Piety  to  learn  the 
Sciences  &  receive  their  Degrees  under  the  Professors  of  our  College,  and  to  read  Divinity  at 
the  same  time  under  the  eldest  Minister  of  the  Oldest  Presbyterian  Congregation,  who  is  to 
have  a  small  Salary  for  his  pains  out  of  the  Fund.  The  Candidates  for  these  Burseries  are  to 
come  recommended  from  the  old  Synod,  &  where  more  than  the  stated  Number  offer,  the  most 
Deserving  to  be  preferred  after  due  Examination  in  the  public  Hall  of  the  College. 

I  thought  proper  to  give  you  a  Sketch  of  this  Design  before  hand,  to  know  your  Opinion 
of  it.  I  shall  afterwards  do  myself  the  Honor  to  join  in  the  Application  for  your  Encourage- 
ment of  it,  upon  wch  they  must  chiefly  depend.  Whatever  you  do  for  this,  will  be  done  for 
those  who  are  really,  not  nominally,  Presbyterians.  It  will  also  be  the  best  Means  of  Union,  & 
reducing  the  separating  Party  to  Reason.  For  when  they  see  the  old  Party  in  a  Capacity  of 
maintaining  their  Ground,  a  Treaty  may  then  be  entered  into  on  a  more  equal  Footing  than  at 
present,  when  the  New-Lights  soon  expect  to  have  all,  by  means  of  their  prolific  Seminary. 
Besides  this,  it  will  always,  or  at  least  for  a  long  Time,  be  impossible  to  raise  Clergy  in  America 
without  Burses  to  encourage  poor  Students.  Those  who  can  be  at  the  Expence  of  a  liberal 
Education  will  hardly  breed  their  Sons  to  the  Starvings,  not  Livings,  of  the  Generality  of  Min- 
isters, in  a  Country  where  their  money  may  be  laid  out  to  so  much  more  advantage,  any  other 
way  whatsoever. 

In  the  mean  Time  the  Congregation  in  this  City  can  see  no  Way  so  good  as  applying  to  you 
for  a  Minister.  Mr.  Cross,  the  present  worhy  Minister,  is  very  infirm,  &  his  valuable  Assistant, 
Mr.  Alison,  is  not  only  engaged  in  one  of  the  most  important  Offices  in  our  College,  but  also 
so  subject  to  pleuritic  Disorders  that  it  is  feared  his  Life  will  be  but  of  a  short  Date.  At  the 
Time  I  am  writing  this  he  is  so  ill,  that  his  physicians  think  him  in  imminent  Danger,  &  if  he 
recovers  I  think  they  will  advise  him  against  frequent  Preaching  for  the  future.  Both  He  &  Mr. 
Cross  are  willing  to  see  the  Congregation  supplied  in  their  Life-Time  with  an  able  Laborer,  who 
may  animate  &  support  their  just  Cause,  when  they  are  laid  in  Dust.  This  they  think  the  more 
necessary,  as  the  new  Party  have  even  had  the  Assurance  to  think  of  putting  one  of  their 
Number  into  that  Congregation. 

To  defeat  this  Design  at  present  was  not  difficult,  as  they  are  capable  to  encourage  an  able 
Man  to  come  over  to  be  at  the  Head  of  the  affairs  of  the  Old  Party,  &  to  superintend  the 
Students  in  Divinity,  should  the  foregoing  plan  take  Effect.  Since  Mr.  Tennent  purged  Mr. 
Cross's  Congregation,  the  Remainder  are  some  of  the  most  substantial  &  sensible  People  of  this 
place,  &  still  a  large  Body.  A  Minister  among  them  will  be  admitted  into  the  genteelest  Com- 
pany in  Town  ;  &  what  they  have  promised  they  will  overpay. 


555 

Among  others  of  this  Congregation,  you  are  not  a  Stranger  to  the  Name  of  Mr.  Allen,  the 
chief  Justice  of  this  Province.  Your  own  Ralph  Allen,  tho'  a  more  public,  is  not  a  more  val- 
uable Character  than  his.  Has  your  Allen  an  affluent  Fortune  and  a  correspondent  Generosity? 
So  has  ours  !  Has  your  Allen  inflexible  Honesty,  great  public  Spirit,  &  private  Worth  ?  Ours 
is  admired  for  the  same  ! 

Permit  me,  then,  if  it  may  have  any  weight,  to  join  him  &  the  rest  of  the  Congregation  in 
Soliciting  your  Dispatch  of  the  Affair.  You  may  know,  partly  from  this  Letter,  how  pressing 
the  Occasion  is.  They  have  put  great  Confidence  in  you ;  but  they  know  the  Character  in 
which  they  have  confided. 

What  they  expect  from  you,  if  Possible  to  find  such  a  one,  is  a  Copy,  or  at  least  an  honest 
tho'  distant  Imitation  of  yourself — A  Gentleman  &  a  Scholar;  of  good  Sense  &  masculine 
Piety ; — not  a  rigid  Predestinarian,  nor  yet  presumptuously  excluding  God  from  the  Govern- 
ment of  his  own  world ; — fixed  in  his  own  Principles,  yet  not  breaking  the  sacred  Ties  of 
Benevolence  with  those  that  differ  from  him ; — &  to  crown  all,  a  good  &  zealous  Defender,  as 
well  as  Ornament,  of  our  common  Christianity. 

Should  you  succeed  in  this,  you  will  have  one  good  work  more  to  reflect  upon.  The  Con- 
gregation will  have  the  Blessing  of  a  faithful  Pastor  &  of  an  agreeable  Friend. 

I  am  yours,  &rc, 
W.   S. 

THE   REV.  DR.   SMITH   TO   THE   BISHOP  OF  OXFORD. 

My  Lord  of  Oxford, 

The  Misery  And  Distress  of  this  unhappy  Province,  bleeding  under  the  murderous  knives 
of  a  savage  Enemy,  instigated  and  led  on  by  Popish  cruelty,  have  been  so  unspeakably  great ; 
and  the  Confusions  arising  from  a  Quaker  Government  obstinately  persevering  in  their  absurd 
pacific  Polity  while  the  Sword  of  the  Enemy  was  at  our  Throats,  have  so  thoroughly  engrossed 
my  attention  and  engaged  my  weak  Endeavours  to  defeat  such  wretched  Principles,  and  procure 
Relief  to  a  miserable  People,  that  I  hope  to  be  excused  for  not  having  sooner  returned  my 
humble  Acknowledgments  for  the  Honour  of  your  Lordship's  Letter  of  Feb.  Ist,  1755,  by  the 
revd  Mr.  Barton. 

I  am  extremely  rejoiced  that  the  worthy  Society  are  so  well  convinced  of  the  Importance  of 
sending  Missionaries  to  the  Frontiers  of  our  Colonies ;  &  that  they  took  in  good  Part  my 
Endeavours  to  set  that  matter  in  a  true  and  striking  point  of  view.  The  more  I  consider  it,  the 
more  I  see  its  Importance  to  the  Protestant  Interest.  If  the  people  of  the  Frontiers  were  duly 
sensible  of  our  inestimable  Privileges,  and  animated  with  the  true  Spirit  of  Protestantism,  they 
would  be  as  a  Wall  of  Brass  round  these  Colonies,  and  would  rise  with  a  noble  Ardour  to 
oppose  Every  attempt  of  a  Heathen  or  Popish  Enemy  against  us.  For  none  were  Ever  brave 
without  some  Principle  or  another  to  animate  their  conduct ;  and  of  all  Principles,  surely  a 
rational  sense  of  British  Freedom  &  the  Purity  of  our  holy  Religion,  is  the  noblest.  Indeed 
nothing  but  such  a  Sense,  propagated  and  spread  to  the  utmost  Verge  of  our  Colonies,  can  keep 
our  People  from  being  drawn  off  and  mixing  with  our  Popish  Enemies  the  French,  who  are  still 
coming  nearer  and  nearer  to  us,  &  have  lately  planted  a  fine  Colony  of  German  and  other  Cath- 


556 

0 

olics  on  the  Ohio  near  where  it  falls  into  Mississippi,  from  whence  they  now  supply  all  their 
Garrisons  on  that  River  and  which  will  undoubtedly  prove  a  Drain  or  Collonies  to  receive 
many  of  our  disaffected  Germans  and  others. 

It  was  from  apprehensions  of  this  kind  that  I  took  the  Liberty  to  write  so  fully  to  the 
Society  when  Mr.  Barton  went  for  holy  Orders ;  and  since  that  we  have  still  further  accounts  of 
the  growing  State  of  the  said  French-German  Colony.  It  was  from  the  same  apprehensions  I 
so  warmly  pressed  and  so  earnestly  engaged  in  the  Scheme  for  planting  English  Schools  among 
our  Germans,  which  now  flourish  as  well  as  the  distracted  State  of  the  Country  permits ;  and 
your  Lordship  may  depend  that  they  shall  always  be  conducted  with  a  due  Regard  to  the 
Interest  of  the  Church  of  England.  For  in  truth  it  is  but  one  part  of  the  same  noble  Scheme 
in  which  the  Venble  Society  are  engaged,  &  wherever  there  are  Missionaries  near  any  of  the 
Schools,  they  are  either  employed  as  Masters,  or  named  among  the  Deputy  Trustees  &  Managers 
of  the  School.  In  short,  till  we  can  succeed  in  making  our  Germans  speak  English  &  become 
good  Protestants,  I  doubt  we  shall  never  have  a  firm  hold  of  them.  For  this  Reason  the  extend- 
ing the  means  of  their  Instruction  as  far  [as]  they  extend  their  Settlement  is  a  matter  that 
deserves  our  most  attentive  Consideration. 

I  am  pleased  therefore  that  your  Lordship  &  the  Society  have  given  me  Leave  to  mention 
such  other  Places  on  the  Frontiers  as  maybe  fit  to  place  Missionaries  in,  so  that  the  Kingdom  of 
Christ  may  keep  pace  in  its  Growth  with  the  Growth  of  the  English  Colonies.  This  Liberty  I 
shall  not  fail  to  make  due  use  of,  &  likewise  to  offer  a  Scheme  for  uniting  with  the  Church  all 
the  German  Lutherans  of  this  Country,  which  I  am  sure  could  easily  take  Effect.  But  this  is 
not  the  Time  for  anything  of  that  Nature.  Our  Frontiers  at  present  are  so  far  from  extending 
themselves,  or  wanting  the  Erection  of  new  Missions,  that  I  fear  some  of  those  already  erected 
must  fall.  Poor  Mr.  Barton  has  stood  it  upwards  of  a  Year  at  the  Risk  of  his  Life,  like  a  good 
Soldier  of  Jesus  Christ,  sometimes  heading  his  People  in  the  character  of  a  Clergyman,  and 
sometimes  in  that  of  a  Captain,  being  often  obliged,  when  they  should  go  to  Church,  to  gird  on 
their  Swords  and  go  against  the  Enemy.  If  he  and  two  worthy  Presbyterian  Ministers  had  not 
stood  it  out,  I  believe  all  the  parts  beyond  Susquehanah,  where  his  Mission  lies,  would  have 
been  long  ago  deserted.  I  ventured  out  3  weeks  ago  to  visit  him  and  some  of  our  German 
Schools  in  his  neighborhood,  and  found  him  universally  beloved  by  his  People.  But  their  Love 
is  the  most  they  can  give  him  in  their  present  distrest  State  ;  and  therefore  I  wish  your  Ldp  would 
move  the  honble  Society  to  make  him  some  Gratuity  above  his  Salary  in  these  troublesome  Times. 
I  am  sure  he  both  wants  and  deserves  it. 

I  enclose  a  letter  which  I  sent  him  after  Braddock's  Defeat,  &  which  he  printed  with  a 
Sermon.  I  hope  your  L'lp  will  think  it  worth  Perusal,  as  it  argues  so  nearly  with  the  Sentiments 
contained  in  the  excellent  Instructions  lately  sent  over  from  the  Society.  But,  alas  !  we  are 
here  in  a  sad  Situation.  To  meddle  with  the  Duty  of  Defence,  or  paying  Taxes,  or  supporting 
our  invaluable  Rights,  will  in  this  Province  infallibly  expose  us  to  Party  Rage.  The  Quakers, 
altho'  their  own  preachers  dare  publickly  propagate  notions  of  non-resistance,  non-payment  of 
Taxes,  and  other  rebellious  Doctrines,  yet  they  are  sure  to  wreak  their  utmost  Vengeance  against 
us  if  we  venture,  in  consequence  of  our  Duty,  to  oppose  such  poisonous  Tenets.  I  have  Even 
been  exposed  to  the  Martyrdom  of  my  Character  on  this  Account,  but  I  remain  yet  unhurt ; 
and  were  it  otherwise  I  should  glory  in  suffering  in  so  good  a  Cause.     It  is  true  I  shall  never 


557 

meddle  otherwise  in  such  matters  than  becomes  a  good  subject  who  is  a  friend  to  Government  ; 
yet  at  the  same  Time  I  scorn  to  burn  Insence  on  the  altar  of  popular  Folly,  or  to  be  a  silent 
Spectator  of  my  Country's  Ruin.  To  convince  your  Lordship,  however,  with  what  temper  I 
managed  my  Part  of  the  opposition  to  such  destructive  Tenets,  I  enclose  a  paper  called  plain 
Truth,  which  I  hope  your  Lordship  will  also  peruse,  as  it  will  give  a  most  thrilling  Represen- 
tation of  the  present  State  of  the  Province,  and  the  Moderation  as  well  as  Warmth  of  those 
Arguments  by  which  we  are  obliged  to  combat  the  Doctrines  that  have  so  long  most  unnaturally 
tied  up  our  Hands  &  exposed  us  to  be  passively  slaughtered  by  a  cruel  Foe.  * 


THE   REV.  DR.  SMITH   TO   THE  ARCHBISHOP  OF   CANTERBURY. 
My  Lord, 

I  take  the  Liberty  of  enclosing  a  Copy  of  a  petition  to  his  Majesty,  subscribed  by  the 
principal  Gentlemen  of  this  City,  &:  sent  by  this  Conveyance  to  be  presented.  Copies  of  the 
same  are  now  subscribing  in  the  several  Counties  throughout  the  Province,  <Sc  will  be  sent  also 
to  England  as  soon  as  possible. 

The  purpose  of  the  Petition  will  be  found  truly  interesting.  Our  Situation  at  present  is 
such  as  never  any  Country  was  in.  The  Province  is  powerful  in  Men,  in  Money,  and  in  all 
Sorts  of  Provisions.  From  twelve  to  twenty  Thousand  Men  might  be  raised  on  an  Emergency: 
&  we  could  find  Provisions  for  six  Times  that  Number.  And  yet  we  have  not  a  single  Man  in 
Arras,  but  our  Lives  &  our  all  left  at  the  Mercy  of  a  Savage  Crew,  who  are  continually  Scalping 
around  us  &  among  us.  While  I  am  writing  this  I  hear  of  a  large  Number  cut  off  on  our  own 
Frontiers.  The  Winter  approaches  &  the  King's  Troops  have  left  this  Province,  so  that  we 
have  a  most  melancholy  Prospect. — 'Tis  extremely  distressing  to  think  that  we  have  Strength 
sufficient ;  &:  yet,  by  the  very  Government  that  owes  us  Protection,  to  be  restrained  from  making 
Use  of  those  Powers,  which  God  &  Nature  gave  us,  to  repel  Violence,  and  prevent  the  Inroads 
of  Injustice  &  Iniquity  into  the  World. 

'Tis  far  from  being  my  desire  to  see  any  Sett  of  Men  hampered  by  real  religious  Scruples; 
but  surely  if  these  Scruples  unfit  such  Men  for  that  which  is  the  chief  End  of  all  Government 
(the  Protection  of  the  Governed),  they  ought  in  Conscience  to  resign  to  those  who  are  better 
qualified.  The  Lives  and  properties  of  the  People  are  things  too  sacred  to  be  trifled  with.  And 
yet  while  our  Government  rests  in  the  hands  of  Quakers,  they  must  trifle  on  the  Subject  of  De- 
fence. They  will  suffer  no  Body  to  share  power  with  them,  &  as  they  themselves  can  take  no 
Part  of  a  Military  Power,  so  they  are  determined  never  to  surfer  it  in  the  Province  ;  &  some  of 
them  say  they  would  sooner  see  the  Enemy  in  the  Heart  of  the  Country.  For  this  Reason,  when 
they  are  called  upon  to  put  the  Frontiers  in  a  posture  of  Defence,  they  continually  introduce 
some  Dispute  about  Money  &  privilege  to  evade  the  Question  &:  amuse  the  People ;  Altho'  no 
Money  is  required  by  a  Militia-Law,  but  only  the  Authority  &  Sanction  of  the  Government. 

'Tis  upon  the  same  plan  that  they  abuse  every  Clergyman  who  strives  to  rouse  the  atten- 
tion of  the  people  to  their  present  Danger.  If  we  endeavour  to  distinguish  between  the  Popish 
&  Protestant  Religions  in  Order  to  keep  the  People  firm  to  the  British  Interest  at  this  Perilous 

*  From  the  original  draft  among  the  Smith  MSS. 


553 

Season,  we  are  said  to  be  of  a  biggoted  and  persecuting  Spirit.  If  we  exhort  to  a  manly 
Defence  of  our  inestimable  Liberty,  we  are  said  to  be  Dabblers  in  Politics,  &  not  Ministers  of 
the  meek  and  blessed  Jesus.  They  are  afraid  of  seeing  a  Spirit  of  Virtue  and  Freedom  raised 
among  the  People,  which  would  spurn  those  Quietist  &  non-resisting  Principles  which  at  present 
sway  the  Government  of  this  Province. 

For  my  Part  I  shall  with  my  whole  Influence  oppose  such  Principles,  which  tend  to  subvert 
all  Society.  My  Conscience,  &  Charity  to  our  poor  suffering  back-Inhabitants,  would  not  per- 
mit me  to  act  otherwise.  For  this  Reason,  upon  the  general  consternation  that  followed  General 
Braddock's  Defeat,  I  wrote  to  the  Missionaries  on  the  Frontiers  as  far  as  I  knew  them,  exhorting 
them  to  make  a  noble  Stand  for  Liberty,  and  vindicating  the  Office  &  Duties  of  a  Protestant 
Ministry  against  all  the  Objections  of  the  Quakers  &  other  Spiritualists  who  are  against  all  Clergy. 

This  Letter  was  soon  after  published  &  dispersed  by  the  reva  Mr.  Barton,  together  with  a 
Sermon  of  his  suited  to  the  Times.  The  Letter  I  enclose,  as  it  is  short.  It  had  a  good  Effect, 
especially  as  it  described  what  I  conceived  to  be  the  Duties  of  the  Ministry  in  Times  of  public 
Calamity  and  Danger.  I  humbly  beg  your  Grace  to  peruse  it,  because  I  found  it  necessary  to 
make  use  of  your  Grace's  Name  &  illustrious  Example,  in  Order  to  give  a  Sanction  to  the  Con- 
duct recommended.  Your  Grace  will  perceive,  in  the  last  seven  Pages,  how  good  an  Use  I  have 
made  of  those  noble  Principles  of  Liberty  &  Moderation,  which  your  Grace  was  pleased  to 
recommend  to  me  as  a  Golden  Rule  of  Conduct.  I  hope  I  shall  be  forgiven  the  Freedom  I 
have  taken  in  quoting  that  Rule,  since  it  was  intended  for  the  Interest  of  our  holy  Religion  & 
excellent  Establishment.  If  this  Letter  shall  but  receive  your  Grace's  Approbation,  I  shall 
prefer  it  to  every  other  production  that'  I  have  been  capable  of,  because  it  was  so  seasonable  & 
has  been  so  useful  in  furnishing  my  Brethren  with  arguments. 

As  the  Letter  mentions  your  Grace's  Sermon  on  the  fast  Day  at  Kensington,  a  very  in- 
genious Lutheran  Minister  is  now  translating  it  into  Dutch,  to  be  printed  for  the  Use  of  our 
Germans,  among  whom  are  Shoals  of  Roman  Catholics.  The  Translator  is  extremely  capable 
of  the  work,  &  it  will  be  highly  seasonable. 

I  would  just  observe  farther  that  the  following  petition  was  written  by  me.  I  endeavored 
to  keep  clear  of  all  Party  Reflexions  &  to  make  it  general.  As  I  love  my  Country  I  cannot  help 
giving  what  Assistance  I  can  to  bring  it  into  Order,  &  I  hope  his  Majesty  &  his  most  honb,e 
Council  will  think  our  Case  worthy  of  their  serious  Consideration.  I  doubt  not  it  will  be 
thought  worthy  of  your  Grace's  particular  Countenance,  who  cannot  but  think  yourself  affected 
with  whatever  affects  so  many  of  his  Majesty's  Subjects,  however  distant.  Your  Humanity  is 
as  conspicuous  as  all  your  other  public  Virtues.  It  will  do  me  singular  Honor  to  be  favoured 
now  &  then  with  a  few  Lines  under  your  Grace's  Hand,  in  whose  Life  &  Well-being  I  think 
myself  so  nearly  interested.     Mr.  Penn  will  find  a  Conveyance.     I  am, 

Your  Grace's  Most  obedient  Servant  &  dutiful  Son, 

WILL.  SMITH. 

P.  S.  Please  to  excuse  the  little  Ceremony  with  which  I  am  obliged  to  write,  while  Truth, 
Sincerity,  &  the  profoundest  Respect  appear  at  Bottom. 

Philadelphia,  Oct'  22d,  1755.* 

*  From  the  original  MSS. 


559 

THE    REV.  MR.  BARTON   TO    REV.  DR.  SMITH. 

i  Carlisle,  2d  Novembr,  1755. 

Revd  Sir, 

Since  I  wrote  you  last,  I  have  been  engaged  in  one  Trouble  after  another.  We  have 
Nothing  here  but  Alarms  upon  Alarms.  The  back  Settlers  are  daily  passing  through  this  Town, 
&  leaving  their  long-toiled-for  Possessions  to  the  rude  Spoiler.  Women  &  Children  hanging 
about  their  Husbands,  imploring  them  to  escape.  In  short,  Sir,  every  Circumstance  is  height- 
ened with  the  most  shocking  Accounts. 

A  Letter  from  Harris's  Ferry,  late  last  Night  acquainted  us  that  Andrew  Monteur  &  Mona- 
chatoath  were  sent  for  to  the  big  Island,  who  found  there  six  Delawares,  &  four  Shawanese 
Indians,  who  inform' d  them  that  they  had  receiv'd  the  Hatchet  from  the  French  to  destroy  the 
English,  which  they  resolv'd  to  make  Use  of  while  there  remain'd  one  alive.  Monachatoath  is 
now  upon  his  Way  to  Philada,  with  some  important  Reports  to  the  Governor.  We  are  building 
a  small  Stockade  here,  in  which  most  of  the  Country  People  are  engaged.  This  Town  is  par- 
ticularly threaten'd,  and  we  expect  to  be  attack'd  every  Hour. 

I  seen  Yesterday  the  Copy  of  a  Petition  to  the  Citizens  &  Merchants  of  Philada  for  a  Sub- 
scription. This  Petition  was  directed  to  Will.  Allen,  Wm  Plumsted,  &  Rich4  Peters,  Esq", — 
Mess".  Israel  Pemberton,  Wm  West,  Sam1  Hazard,  &  yourself.  I  mean  the  Pet"  intended  to 
request  these  Gent1"  to  hand  it  about,  whether  it  will  be  sent  or  no  I  cannot  tell. 

If  Volunteers  will  go  out  against  the  Enemy,  I'm  ready  to  be  one.  I  know  not  where  I 
shall  be  this  Day-Week.     But  wherever  I  am,  I  shall  always  be, 

Rev"  Sir, 

Your  affectionate, 

humble  Serv', 

THO.  BARTON. 

P.  S.  I'm  inform'd  that  Mr.  Bradford  is  the  GentD  who  has  been  so  industrious  to  injure 
me.     More  of  this  in  my  next. 

N.  B.  By  Advices  just  receiv'd  from  two  Gent1"  in  this  County,  we  are  assured  that  the 
great  Cove  is  quite  destroy'd,  the  Houses  burnt,  &  the  Inhabitants  murder'd.  We  are  in  the 
most  unhappy  Situation — Nothing  but  Cries  &  Confusion. 

I  wish  the  Gent"  of  Philad"  would  enter  into  a  Subscription  for  us.     We  shall  otherwise  be 
inevitably  ruined. 

THE    REV.  MR.  BARTON    TO  REV.  DR.    SMITH. 

Carlisle,  Septembr  23d,  1756. 
Rev"  dear  Sir, 

I  wish  I  had  receiv'd  Yours  sooner.  I  would  have  recommended  to  you  to  procure  a  Letter 
from  Mr.  Alison  to  Mr.  Thompson,  and  one  from  Mr.  Tennant  to  Mr.  Bay.  I  am  afraid  the 
Scheme  is  come  too  late ;  The  Country  has  already  settled  a  Ticket,  so  that  it  will  be  no  easy 
Matter  to  prevail  upon  them  to  change  it;  However,  rest  assured  I  shall  use  my  utmost  En- 
deavour; as  will  also  Mr.  Lishy,  who  has  been  with  me  about  it. 


56o 

I  am  not  suprised  that  all  is  Confusion  with  you,  for  the  British  Interest  seems  to  totter  ! 
Braddock  defeated  ! — Minorea  taken  ! — Oswego  destroyed, — I  had  like  to  have  said  sold  ! — Our 
Fellow  Subjects  daily  murder'd,  &  carried  into  Savage  Captivity ; — and  a  great  Part  of  Pennsyl- 
vania already  depopulated  &  laid  waste  ! 

The  present  War  seems  big  with  Ruin  !  God  knows  what  may  be  the  Issue,  but  the  Eng- 
lish Colonies  on  this  Continent  have  Reason  to  dread  the  sad  Effects  of  it.  We  are  Ten  Times  the 
Number  of  the  Enemy,  but  our  Misfortune  is,  we  do  not  cherish  that  Harmony  &  Unanimity 
that  was  formerly  wont  to  make  Englishmen  terrible. 

Some  of  our  petty  Colonies  are,  at  this  Time,  aiming  at  separate  Interests  &  independent 
Glory; — Some  think  the  Danger  at  a  Distance,  and  therefore  will  not  be  concern'd  ; — Others 
either  swarm  with  Papists,  or  are  govern'd  by  a  Set  of  Men  whose  religious  Principles  are 
contrary  to  the  very  Nature  &  Design  of  Government,  &  will  not  part  with  their  peaceable 
Testimony  to  rescue  the  Country  from  Destruction. 

As  you  will  no  Doubt  have  a  full  Account  of  Mr.  Armstrong's  Expedition  to  the  Kittannon 
in  the  Papers,  I  shall  only  observe  to  you,  that  the  famous  Captain  Jacobs  fought,  &  died,  like 
a  Soldier.  He  refus'd  to  surrender  when  the  House  was  even  on  Fire  over  his  Head  ;  And  when 
the  Flame  grew  too  violent  for  him,  he  rush'd  out  into  the  Body  of  our  Men  flourishing  his 
Tomahawk,  &  told  them  he  was  born  a  Soldier,  &  would  not  die  a  Slave. 

If  you  should  come  as  far  as  York,  I  should  be  glad  to  see  you,  having  some  affairs  to  com- 
municate to  you.     I  faithfully  assure  you  that  I  am, 

Your  affectionate  Friend  & 

Serv', 

THO.   BARTON. 


THE   PENNSYLVANIA  TRUSTEES   TO  THE   SOCIETY   IN   LONDON. 

To  the  Right  Honourable  and  worthy  Members  of  the  Society  for  promoting  religious  Knowl- 
edge and  the  English  Language  among  the  German  Emigrants  in  Pennsylvania,  &c. 

Most  Worthy  Lords  and  Gentlemen, 

We  have  been  duly  honoured  with  your  several  Letters  thro'  the  Hands  of  your  worthy 
Secretary  and  Fellow  Member,  the  Reverend  Dr.  Chandler,  part  of  which  have  been  directed  to 
Us  jointly,  and  part  to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Smith.  We  have,  from  Time  to  Time,  faithfully 
endeavoured  to  follow  your  Orders  and  Instructions,  and  beg  Leave  to  assure  You  of  the  sensible 
Pleasure  it  gives  Us  to  find  our  Conduct  approved  by  such  an  honourable  Body  of  Men,  in  the 
Management  of  so  useful  and  excellent  a  Charity.  But  nothing,  in  this  whole  Business,  gives 
Us  more  real  Satisfaction  than  to  be  so  strongly  assured  in  your  Letter  of  January  28,  1755, — 
"That  the  whole  of  what  you  aim  at  is,  not  to  proselyte  the  Germans  to  any  particular  Denom- 
"ination,  but  (leaving  all  of  them  to  the  entire  Liberty  of  their  own  Judgments  in  speculative 
"and  disputed  Points)  to  spread  the  knowledge  of  the  avowed  uncontroverted  Principles  of 
"Religion  and  Morality  among  them,  to  render  them  acquainted  with  the  English  Language 
"and  Constitution,  to  form  them  into  good  Subjects  to  his  Majesty  King  George  whose  protec- 
"  tion  they  enjoy,  and  make  them  Friends  to  the  Interests  of  that  Nation  which  hath  received 


56i 

"them  into  her  Bosom,  blessed  them  with  Liberty  and  given  them  a  Share  in  her  invaluable 
"  Privileges." 

Such  a  noble  and  generous  Declaration  is  truly  worthy  of  the  noble  and  generous  Spirits 
from  whence  it  comes.  It  is  worthy  of  Men  who  have  embarked  on  a  Principle  of  Doing  Good 
for  its  own  Sake,  and  who  by  their  Birth,  Education,  and  liberal  Turn  of  Mind,  are  elevated  far 
above  the  narrow  Distinctions  that  blind  the  Vulgar.  We  have  likewise  the  Honour  to  assure 
You,  that  such  a  Declaration  is  also  perfectly  agreeable  to  our  Sentiments,  who,  by  Reason  of 
our  Publick  Situation  in  this  Country,  could  never  have  engaged  in  the  Management  of  any 
partial  Scheme.  Nor  indeed  would  such  Scheme  have  answered,  in  any  Shape,  your  pious  and 
noble  Design.  For  whatever  is  proposed  for  the  Benefit  of  the  German  Emigrants  must,  in  its 
Nature  and  Plan,  be  as  Catholic  and  General  as  their  Denominations  are  various ;  especially  as 
far  as  regards  the  Education  of  their  Children ;  in  which  Point  they  are  exceeding  jealous  and 
tenacious  of  their  respective  Dogmas  and  Notions. 

We  ought  long  ago  to  have  addressed  You  in  this  public  Manner,  but  have  been  hitherto 
prevented ;  partly  by  the  great  Distress  of  our  Country  and  the  frequent  Absence  of  many  of  Us 
from  Town ;  and  partly  by  the  necessary  Time  it  took  to  give  You  a  Notion  of  the  Expence,  and 
settle  Accounts  of  various  Articles  and  different  Commencements,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  com- 
mence from  stated  Periods  in  Time  coming.  Nevertheless,  although  these  Things  have  delayed 
this  public  Letter,  and  may  perhaps  sometimes  have  interrupted  the  Course  of  our  more  private 
Intelligence,  yet  We  have  not  been  wanting  in  our  Attention  to  the  Progress  of  the  Schools. 
It  will  appear  by  the  Minutes  sent  You  to  June  16th  last,  and  by  those  which  accompany  this 
Letter,  that  Messieurs  Smith  and  Schlatter  have  done  their  Part ;  and  some  of  Us  in  our  Journey 
to  the  Frontiers  have  also  occasionally  visited  several  of  the  Schools. 

Upon  the  whole,  they  are  in  as  promising  a  State  as  can  reasonably  be  expected  in  a 
Country  so  much  harrassed  by  a  Savage  Enemy,  and  subject  to  so  many  Alarms  to  disturb  that 
Peace  and  Tranquillity  which  are  so  essentially  necessary  to  the  Cultivation  of  Knowledge.  You 
are  already  informed  that  three  of  the  Schools  We  had  planted  have  for  some  Time  past  been 
entirely  broken  up,  being  near  the  Frontiers,  where  the  People  for  near  a  year  have  been  flying 
from  Place  to  Place,  and  but  little  fixt  in  their  Habitations.  The  other  Schools  remain  much 
in  the  same  State  as  when  You  received  our  last  Minutes ;  and  We  are  now  not  without  Hopes 
of  enjoying  more  internal  Quiet  for  the  future  and  keeping  our  Enemy  at  a  greater  Distance. 

Along  with  this,  You  will  receive  the  Remainder  of  the  Minutes  and  a  State  of  the  Ac- 
counts to  July  Ist,  by  which  You  will  find,  that  including  the  Purchase  of  the  Press,  Six  Hundred 
Pounds,  the  Sum  already  drawn  for  is  expended  for  one  Year  and  a  half,  excepting  a  very  small 
Ballance,  and  the  Outstanding  Debts,  which  We  shall  give  Credit  for  as  fast  as  they  can  be 
collected  in.  We  must  now  continue  to  draw  One  Hundred  Pounds  Quarterly,  till  We  receive 
your  further  Orders.  This  will  do  our  Business,  and  We  hope  so  good  a  Work  will  not  be 
suffered  to  drop  for  want  of  that  Sum.  The  carrying  on  the  printing  Work  has  been  expensive 
at  first  setting  out ;  but  great  part  of  that  will  in  Time  be  defrayed  by  the  debts  due  in  the 
Country.  And  'tis  also  to  be  considered  that  the  distributing  religious  Books  was  part  of  our 
Design ;  for  which  Reason  We  were  at  a  considerable  Expence  with  the  Dutch  Copy  of  the  Life 
of  God  in  the  Soul  of  Man,  Five  Hundred  Copies  of  which  are  yet  remaining,  and  the  other 
Five  Hundred  are  gone  out  among  the  People,  and  have  proved  most  acceptable  at  this  Time. 


562 

Permit  Us  to  assure  You  that  We  shall  at  all  Times  think  Ourselves  happy  in  contributing 
every  Thing  in  our  power,  under  so  illustrious  a  Society  of  Men,  to  the  forwarding  such  an 
excellent  Design,  for  the  Honour  of  Great  Britain,  and  the  Benefit  of  those  poor  People  who 
have  taken  Refuge  under  her  Wings,  and  with  due  Care  may  be  preserved  as  his  Majesty's  most 
faithful  Subjects,  and  zealous  Defenders  of  the  Protestant  Cause. 
We  have  the  Honour  to  be 

Philad4,  24th  Sep',  1756.  Your  most  obedient  and  most  humble  Servants, 

Signed  as  follows :  Benjamin  Franklin,  ~|  James  Hamilton, 

Conrad  Weiser,  y  William  Allen, 


Michael  Schlatter,  Supervisor. 


William  Smith,  1  Richard  Peters. 


THE.   REV.  DR.  SMITH   TO   THE   REV.  DR.  BEARCROFT. 

Rev"  and  worthy  Sr, 

Your  Favour  of  March  25th,  in  the  name  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign 
Parts,  I  received  about  the  first  of  Septr,  and  have  spoken  to  several  proper  Persons  relating  to 
the  Scheme  you  propose  "of  instructing  &  maintaining  a  Number  of  Indian  Children  at  the 
"  Academy  at  Philadelphia  under  my  Care  at  the  Expence  of  the  Society,  with  a  View  to 
"  initiate  the  said  Children  in  the  Principles  of  Christianity."  I  have  observed  in  a  letter  to  my 
Lord  Bishop  of  Oxford,  of  this  Date,  how  much  pleasure  it  would  give  me  to  contribute 
towards  so  good  a  Design,  and  a  Design  so  perfectly  agreeable  to  the  original  Plan  of  the 
worthy  Society; — "The  glorifying  the  Name  of  Jesus,  by  the  further  Enlargement  of  his 
"Church,  and  particularly  by  spreading  his  everlasting  Gospel  among  the  Heathen  Natives  of 
"America;  as  well  by  Instructing  and  civilizing  those  of  them  that  are  grown  up,  as  by  laying 
"  a  Foundation  for  educating,  cloathing,  and  training  up  their  Children  in  the  knowledge  of 
"  morality,  true  Religion,  the  English  Tongue,  &  in  some  Trade,  Mystery,  or  Calling,  should 
"they  be  disposed  to  follow  it."  I  have  further  hinted  in  that  Letter  that  altho'  Almighty 
God  has  not  thought  fit  hitherto  to  give  any  remarkable  Success  to  the  pious  labours  of  the 
Society  in  the  great  Work  of  Converting  the  Indians,  yet  as  such  a  Conversion,  if  ever  it  is 
accomplished,  must  probably  begin  in  the  rising  Generation,  it  would  be  well  if  in  every 
Frontier  Colony  there  were  a  Provision  made  in  the  most  public  Place  of  it  for  maintaining  and 
educating  a  Number  of  Indian  Children ;  and  who  knows  the  Time  when,  or  the  Means  by 
which  God  may  be  pleased  to  bless  the  great  Work  at  last  ?  I  have  also  in  the  said  Letter 
hinted  several  other  Things  on  this  Head,  which  I  need  not  repeat  here,  as  his  Lordship  is  a 
constant  and  worthy  Member  of  the  Meetings  of  the  Society,  at  which  this  important  Scheme 
will  be  further  deliberated. 

I  proceed  then  to  your  Query  as  to  the  Expence  of  such  an  Undertaking.  This,  indeed, 
it  is  not  possible  exactly  to  answer.  However,  they  may  be  cloathed,  fed  and  educated  for 
about  ^20  Sterl.  one  with  another.  But  then  there  is  a  considerable  Expence  which,  perhaps, 
you  have  not  thought  of.  Wherever  we  have  Indian  Children,  their  Parents  will  be  coming 
down  twice  or  thrice  a  Year  to  see  them ;  and  must  be  maintained  not  only  during  their  Stay, 


563 

but  on  their  Journey,  Going  and  Coming,  besides  receiving  a  considerable  Present  every  Time, 
which  is  an  Article  not  to  be  dispensed  with.  This  Expence,  however,  I  believe  the  Province 
would  defray  very  willingly;  and  on  that  Head  Mr.  Penn  is  to  be  consulted.  I  should  be  glad 
to  be  informed  what  Number  the  Society  would  propose  to  maintain  of  these  Children,  and 
under  what  Regulations,  that  I  might  be  able  to  settle  all  the  Parts  of  the  Plan  with  the 
Trustees  of  our  College  and  Academy,  and  to  fall  upon  Means  of  defraying  any  Expences  that 
may  arise  over  and  above  the  Society's  Allowance.  If  it  was  thought  advisable,  some  of  them 
might  be  placed  in  the  Country  at  the  Charity-Schools  lately  created  among  the  Germans,  in 
the  Management  of  which  I  am  concerned.  But  tho'  this  method  would  be  something  less 
expensive,  yet  I  should  not  think  it  so  advisable,  because  the  farther  distant  from  their  Parents 
and  the  more  public  the  place  is  at  which  these  Children  are  placed,  so  much  better  would  it  be 
in  the  political  Consideration  of  attaching  them  more  strongly  to  our  Interest,  by  giving  them 
Opportunities  of  seeing  and  knowing  the  principal  Persons  in  our  Government. 

Another  Expence  will  be  in  getting  them  to  consent  to  such  an  Education.  And  this  is 
only  to  be  done  by  getting  our  Government  here  to  engage  its  Credit  for  their  good  Usage, 
and  making  it  worth  the  Pains  of  the  Provincial  Interpreter  to  go  among  them  &  use  his  Influ- 
ence for  that  purpose;  that  so  the  Parents  may  be  gradually  reconciled  to  part  with  them. 

Now  there  is  a  greater  chance  of  getting  all  this  done  by  making  such  a  Provision  in  our 
public  Academy  than  any  where  else  that  I  know.  This  Province  has  always  preserved  its  Faith 
remarkably  with  the  Indians.  The  chief  Men  in  the  Province  are  engaged  in  the  Trusteeship 
of  our  Academy,  and  its  Foundation  is  on  the  most  catholic  and  liberal  Plan. 

I  find  Dr.  Jenney  is  not  very  fond  of  the  Design,  and  says  that  our  Trustees  have  little 
Regard  for  Religion.  But  the  Truth  is  that  from  the  first  he  has  opposed  the  Institution, 
because  it  was  not  made  a  Church  Establishment  &  all  the  Masters  to  be  of  that  Persuasion. 
His  Zeal  for  the  Best  Church  on  Earth  is  certainly  commendable ;  but  it  may  be  carried  too 
far.  Had  our  College  been  opened  on  that  Plan  in  such  a  Place  as  Philadelphia,  the  Students 
would  indeed  have  been  a  very  scanty  Number.  The  People  would  not  have  borne  even  the 
Mention  of  such  a  Design  at  first.  However  the  Church,  by  soft  and  easy  Means,  daily  gains 
Ground  in  it.  Of  Twenty  four  Trustees  15  or  1 6  are  regular  Churchmen;  and  when  our  late 
additional  Charter  was  passed,  I  who  am  a  Minister  of  the  Church  of  England  had  the  Prefer- 
ence to  two  other  Ministers  of  other  Persuasions  of  longer  Standing  than  me  in  the  Institution, 
and  was  made  Provost  of  the  same  by  the  unanimous  Voice  of  the  Trustees.  We  have  Prayers 
twice  a  day,  the  Children  learn  the  Church-Catechism,  &  upon  the  whole  I  never  knew  a  greater 
Regard  to  Religion  in  any  Seminary,  nor  Masters  more  thoroughly  possessed  of  the  truth  of 
our  common  Christianity.  And  glad  should  I  have  been  could  I  have  dispelled  Doctor  Jenney's 
Prejudices,  and  persuaded  him  to  be  convinced  with  his  own  Eyes.  But  he  never  would  set  a 
Foot  within  our  Gates. 

You  will  not  think  that  I  mean  by  this  to  throw  any  Reflection  on  a  Gentleman  so  much 
my  superior  in  years.  I  would  only  endeavour  to  prevent  your  being  prejudiced  against  our 
Institution  by  any  Thing  he  may  say  from  a  well-meant  Zeal  to  have  the  Church  established 
faster  in  this  Province  than  the  Temper  of  the  People  will  allow.  If  any  Thing  farther  than  my 
Word  be  necessary  concerning  our  Academy,  I  can  get  all  the  Clergy  in  the  Country  to  Certify 
to  its  Credit,  and  to  the  Expediency  of  your  Proposal  for  educating  Indian  Children  at  it.  And, 


5^4 

indeed,  if  the  weight  of  the  Trustees,  their  Authority  in  the  Government,  and  the  Reputation  of 
our  College  and  Academy  cannot  engage  the  Indians  to  consent  to  the  Design,  certainly  the 
Credit  of  a  Church  Vestry  or  any  private  School  will  be  ineffectual.  I  hope  soon  to  be 
favoured  with  the  Society's  further  Commands  on  this  Head  that  I  may  know  how  to  frame  my 
Conduct  accordingly. 

This  will  be  delivered  to  you  by  the  Rev11  Mr.  Acrelius,  a  learned  Swede,  and  late  Commis- 
sary to  the  Swedish  Churches  on  Delaware,  who  now  returns  to  considerable  Preferment  in  his 
native  Country,  as  the  Reward  of  his  past  faithful  Labours.  He  is  a  sincere  Friend  to  the 
Church  of  England,  and  has  been  useful  to  many  of  our  destitute  English  Congregations,  par- 
ticularly Newcastle,  by  preaching  and  using  our  Service  in  English.  He  is  well  acquainted  with 
the  State  of  all  our  Missions  in  this  Province;  and  it  may  be  worth  the  while  to  inform  yourself 
concerning  some  of  them,  particularly  Chester  and  Newcastle.  He  is  a  worthy  and  discerning 
Man,  and  as  he  is  never  to  return  among  us,  must  be  impartial.  Along  with  him  there  goes  a 
young  Gentleman  of  the  name  of  McKeane,  of  whom  I  have  a  good  Character  from  people  of 
Reputation.     I  wish  you  could  serve  him  in  any  Degree. 

I  was  at  Newcastle  lately,  and  find  all  the  People  mightily  set  upon  having  Mr.  Cleaveland 
for  their  Missionary ;  and  at  their  pressing  Instances  he  now  supplies  them,  as  he  is  kept  out  of 
his  Mission  at  Lewes  by  a  most  worthless  Fellow  of  the  Name  of  Harris.  I  wish  Mr.  Cleave- 
land may  be  ordained  at  Newcastle,  which  he  will  soon  render  a  flourishing  Congregation,  as 
he  is  a  worthy  Man  &  a  popular  Preacher.  As  for  the  People  of  Lewes  they  deserve  no  Notice 
till  they  return  to  their  Senses  and  discharge  their  present  irregular  Minister,  which  they  will 
soon  do  if  left  to  themselves.  I  hear  that  a  whole  Revolution  is  proposed  among  the  Missions, 
Mr.  Craig  for  Oxford,  Mr.  Ross  for  Newcastle,  &  Mr.  Cleaveland  for  Lancaster.  Such  a  Step  I 
fear  will  not  be  agreeable  to  all  the  parties  concerned,  and  particularly  to  Newcastle,  which  in 
that  case  you  will  find  will  be  reduced  to  great  Distraction.  Dr.  Jenney  would  be  willing  to 
have  Mr.  Craig  near  him  ;  but  Lancaster  perhaps  would  not  like  the  change.  But  these  Things  are 
not  my  Business  any  farther  than  as  an  impartial  Spectator  that  regards  the  Interest  of  the  Church. 

Mr.  Barton  is  indeed  a  most  worthy  &  useful  Missionary.  He  is  the  Darling  of  his  People, 
&  has  been  obliged  for  a  twelvemonth  past  sometimes  to  act  as  their  Captain  &  sometimes  as 
their  Minister.  He  has  been  the  means  of  keeping  them  together  at  the  Risk  of  his  Life, 
when  they  would  otherwise  probably  have  been  dispersed  all  over  the  Continent.  They  are 
under  continual  Alarms  from  the  Savages,  and  I  believe  able  to  pay  him  but  little.  I  have  just 
been  up  among  them.  They  do  all  they  can  for  Mr.  Barton;  but  if  the  Society  do  not  grant 
him  some  Gratuity  over  his  Salary,  in  these  distrest  Times,  I  fear  he  must  leave  them  &  seek  a 
Living  elsewhere.  For  on  any  Alarm  his  House  is  their  Rendezvous,  and  the  Number  of  poor 
becoming  every  Day  a  greater  Burden,  who  being  driven  from  their  Houses  and  Homes  would 
melt  the  hardest  Heart  into  the  kind  Offices  of  Charity.  I  shall  always  rejoice  if  in  my 
present  Station  I  can  be  any  way  instrumental  in  executing  any  of  your  Commands,  or  pro- 
moting the  great  Work  in  which  you  are  so  assiduously  engaged.  May  God  prosper  and  direct 
all  the  Designs  of  the  worthy  Society  to  his  own  Glory,  which  is  the  unfeigned  Prayer  of 
Worthy  Sir,  Your  most  Affectionate  Brother  and  Obedient  humble  Servant, 

Philad*,  Novr  i",  1756.  WILLIAM  SMITH. 

P.  S.     Direct  to  Wm  Smith,  Provost  of  the  College  and  Academy  of  Philadelphia. 


565 

REV.  DR.  SMITH  TO  REV.  DR.  BEARCROFT. 

Philadelphia,  Novr  5th,  1756. 

Since  I  wrote  you  the  2d  Instant,  the  enclosed  were  sent  me  from  Mr.  Barton's  3  Congrega- 
tions to  be  forwarded  to  you.  As  I  took  the  Liberty  warmly  to  recommend  these  Congregations 
to  the  venble  Society,  from  a  Conviction  that  nothing  can  preserve  our  Frontiers  separate  from 
a  popish  encroaching  Enemy,  except  a  sublime  Sense  of  British  Religion  and  Liberty,  spreading 
itself  along  as  far  as  our  Colonies  spread ;  so  it  gives  me  Pleasure,  and  I  am  sure  it  will  give  the 
worthy  Society  Pleasure,  to  see  so  much  Fruit,  by  the  Blessing  of  God,  already  sprung  up  in  the 
new  Mission  of  York  &  Cumberland,  even  amid  all  the  Horrors  of  a  most  desperate  War,  with 
the  blooodiest  of  all  Enemies,  a  Race  of  merciless  Savages.  Our  People  now,  inspirited  by 
their  zealous  Missionary,  &  kept  constantly  in  mind  of  their  holy  Protestant  Religion  &  inesti- 
mable Privileges,  exert  themselves  manfully  for  the  Cities  of  their  God  against  a  Popish  & 
Savage  Enemy  ;  and  I  am  sure  were  not  the  Sense  of  these  Blessings  to  be  extended  backwards, 
as  far  our  Settlements  extend,  nothing  could  prevent  our  People  from  being  seduced  by  busy 
Jesuits,  &  mixing  gradually  with  our  French  Foes.  The  whole  Country  is,  therefore,  under 
the  highest  Obligation  to  the  Society  for  this  New  Mission,  both  in  a  civil  &  religious  Light ; 
and  will  be  under  still  higher  for  every  new  one  that  is  opened  on  the  Frontiers.  They  will  be 
as  so  many  Watch-Towers,  from  which  our  faithful  Missionaries  "would  cry  aloud  &  spare  not, 
on  the  Approach  of  every  Thing  that  could  hurt  our  holy  Zion."  I  have  promised  my  Lord 
Bp  of  Oxford,  in  Answer  to  a  Letter  of  his  Lordship's  on  that  Subject,  that  whenever  I  know  of 
any  other  Places  on  the  Frontiers,  deserving  the  Society's  regard,  I  shall  humbly  propose  the 
same ;  but  that  at  present  we  cannot  tell  where  our  Frontiers  will  be ; — so  unsettled  is  our 
State. 

I  observe  Mr.  Barton's  several  Congregations  have  modestly  hinted  at  their  Inability  to 
perform  their  Engagements.  Yet  I  am  sure  they  will  do  their  best  &  Mr.  Barton  does  not 
complain ;  tho'  when  I  was  lately  back  in  Company  with  our  Governor  to  the  Frontiers,  I 
could  learn  that  he  was  much  pinch' d  ;  &  therefore  I  doubt  not  you'll  kindly  consider  what  I 
hinted  in  mine  of  the  2d  Instant,  for  the  Presbyterians  and  other  Dissenters  are  chiefly  the  Men 
that  must  defend  this  Country,  &  it  is  reasonable  they  should  have  their  Share  in  the  Govern- 
ment of  it. 

I  did  my  Part  to  unite  all  the  Protestants  in  one  Interest,  by  publishing  and  distributing 
the  enclosed  Paper,  called  Plain  Truth.  It  contains  a  most  striking  State  of  the  Province,  and 
is  allowed  on  all  Sides  to  be  one  of  the  best  Papers  that  have  appeared  here.  It  has  done 
much  Good ;  but  there  is  still  much  to  do.  Read  it  attentively  and  let  me  know  your  Senti- 
ments concerning  it ;  particularly  the  Note  at  the  Bottom  of  last  Page.  This  Assembly  will  not 
give  us  any  Militia  Law,  better  than  the  last  which  was  justly  repealed. 

I  wish  this  may  find  you  well.  You  have  been  extremely  sparing  of  your  letters  of  late.  I 
long  daily  to  hear  from  you.  Along  with  this  you  will  receive  Duplicates  of  the  Minutes  and 
Accounts  to  July  ist.  I  have  also  drawn  upon  you  for  the  Quarter  from  July  ist  to  Octr  Ist, 
1 756,  ;£ioo  Ster.,  in  two  Bills ;  the  one  payable  to  B.  Chew,  Esqr,  Attorney-general  of  this  Prov- 
ince, or  his  Order,  for  ,£93.7.10  Ster.  The  Balance  of  _£6.i2.2  I  have  drawn  as  a  Present  to  a 
Brother  of  mine,  whose  Apprenticeship  being  expired,  I  think  deserves  that  token  of  my 
Esteem.      I  have  advanced  the  Value  &  shall  give  Credit  accordingly.     I  have  desired  my 


566 

Brother  to  present  it  to  you  in  Person,  &  hope  you'll  give  him  your  best  Advice  with  Regard 
to  his  Conduct.     I  hope  you  will  find  him  as  I  left  him — Modest  &  virtuously  disposed. 

I  have  no  time  to  keep  a  Copy  of  this,  &  hope  you'll  preserve  it,  as  it  contains  my  free 
and  catholic  Sentiments  on  Subjects  of  Importance.  I  say  keep  a  Copy ;  for  it  is  probable  I 
may  see  you  sooner  than  you  expect.  I  offer  you  the  Continuance  of  my  sincerest  good  Wishes 
and  am, 

Rev"  Sr, 

Your  affectionate  Brother  &  Serv', 

WILLIAM  SMITH. 
Philad',  Novr  2d,  1756. 


THE  REV.  DR.  BEARCROFT  TO  THE  REV.  DR.  SMITH. 

Charterhouse,  July  1,  1757. 
Revd  Se, 

Your  letter  by  Mr.  Acrelius,  a  very  worthy  Divine,  hath  been  maturely  considered  by  the 
Society ;  &  after  consulting  Mr.  Penn,  who  professes  to  approve  of  the  Education  of  Indian 
Children  in  your  College,  &  promises,  what  in  him  is,  to  countenance  &  help  forward  that 
design  as  much  as  the  present  turbulent  times  in  Pennsylvania  will  admitt,  the  Society  are  come 
to  the  Resolution  of  advancing  as  far  as  one  hundred  pounds  Sterling  *§  annum  by  way  of  trial 
for  the  Education  of  as  many  Indian  Children  as  that  Sum  will  maintain  in  the  College,  if  their 
Parents  will  consent  to  put  them  under  Your  care  &  Direction ;  &  the  particular  Regulations 
concerning  them  are  left  to  You,  taking  along  with  you  the  approbation  of  the  Trustees  of  the 
College. 

I  much  approve  of  Your  Courage  in  bearing  a  Publick  Testimony  against  those  Quaker 
Doctrines  that  are  subversive  of  all  order  &  Society,  in  spite  of  all  the  obloquy  malice  hath  & 
will  throw  out  against  You  for  it;  &  You  may  depend  upon  my  best  endeavours  to  do  You 
Justice,  if  I  meet  with  any  thing  of  that  nature  here.  I  am  very  glad  Mr.  Barton  hath  proved 
himself  so  worthy  a  Missionary,  &  so  very  proper  a  one  for  the  dangerous  time  &  place  in  which 
his  Mission  is.  The  Society  are  most  sensible  of  his  good  conduct,  and  to  give  him  a  substantial 
proof  of  it,  they  have  given  him  a  Gratuity  of  ^20,  as  they  have  likewise  to  Mr.  Acrelius  ^30 
for  the  many  good  Services  done  by  him  during  his  residence  in  Pennsylvania  to  the  Members 
of  our  Church;  &  Mr.  McQuean,  who  came  over  with  him,  is  appointed  Missionary  to  the 
Church  of  New  Brunswick  in  New  Jersey,  &  will  be  the  bearer  of  this. 

I  cannot  conclude  without  particular  thanks  for  the  Entertainment  I  receiv'd  from  Your 
Epilogue,  &  the  account  of  the  College  Exercise  ;  &  that  you  may  go  on  &  prosper,  &  bring 
much  fruit  to  Perfection,  is  the  hearty  wish  of,  Mr.  Provost,* 

Your  very  faithfull  humble  Servant, 

PHILIP  BEARCROFT. 

To  the  Rev*  Mr.  Smith,  Provost  of  the  College  for  the  Education  of  Youth  in  Philadelphia. 

*  From  the  original  MS. 


5^7 

Pp.   270-273. 

The  Rev.  Robert  McKean  was  licensed  to  New  Jersey,  April  26,  1757.  In  1762,  he  was 
laboring  in  Piscataway.  In  February,  1763,  he  entered  upon  the  mission  at  Perth  Amboy, 
where  he  labored  with  acceptance  until  his  decease,  on  the  17th  of  October,  1767,  at  the  age  of 
42.  Vide  Whitehead's  Contributions  to  East  Jersey  History,  pp.  177,  183,  225-228,  229,  291, 
392,  409;  Clark's  Hist,  of  St.  John's,  Elizabeth,  pp.  98,  no;  Hawks's  Contrib.  to  Eccl.  Hist., 
Virginia,  p.  126;  and  the  Coll.  of  the  Prot.  Epis.  Hist.  Society,  I.  p.  116. 

Pp.    275-281. 

Several  letters  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Barton  have  been  printed  among  the  additional  docu- 
ments accompanying  the  notes  to  this  volume.  Many  others  are  preserved  among  the  Smith 
MSS.,  and  are  highly  creditable  to  the  zeal  and  faithfulness  of  the  writer.  A  sketch  of  his  life 
will  be  found  in  Sprague's  Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit,  pp.  168-170.  References  to  him  are 
found  in  Hazard's  Colonial  Records,  VI.  675,  XL  579,  XX.  339,  357 ;  Penn.  Archives,  II.  568, 
755.  756» IIL  245>  377.  447.  45°.  4S1.  4S2>  IV.  132>  v-  634,  VII.  226,  VIII.  30 ;  Clark's  Hist, 
of  St.  John's,  Elizabeth,  139;  Anderson's  Col.  Ch.  III.  266-269,  333  j  Hawkins's  Missions  of 
the  Ch.  ofEng.,  127,  132,  135,  139;  New  York  Col.  Documents,  VII.  165,  166,  and  elsewhere. 
Mr.  Barton  published  a  sermon,  preached  at  York  on  occasion  of  Braddock's  Defeat  in  1755, 
which  is  the  subject  of  a  number  of  the  letters  preserved  among  the  Smith  MSS.,  and  also  an 
interesting  compilation  of  Family  Prayers,  a  copy  of  which,  possibly  unique,  is  in  the  library  of 
the  present  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania. 

P.    281. 

The  lack  of  records  of  this  period  at  the  Radnor  Church,  serves  to  confirm  the  complaint  of 
this  worthy  old  missionary.  Vide  "A  Sermon  preached  by  the  Rev.  Wm.  F.  Halsey,  at  St. 
David's  (commonly  called  Radnor)  Church,  Delaware  County,  Pennsylvania,  September  4th, 
1867,  on  the  occasion  of  the  150th  Anniversary  of  the  building  of  the  Church."  8vo.  Phila- 
delphia, 1868,  pp.  35. 

P.    289. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Mather  was  licensed  to  Maryland,  December  29,  1 760,  and  is  referred  to 

in  the  Maryland  MSS. 

Pp.    290-293. 

The  Rev.  George  Craig  was  licensed  to  New  Jersey,  Sept.  1,  1750.  He  is  referred  to 
in  Dorr's  Hist,  of  Christ  Church,  pp.  124,  125  ;  in  Hawkins's  Missions  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, pp.  315,  396;  and  is  marked  as  "dead"  in  a  list  of  missionaries  dated  1770,  preserved 
among  the  Gen.  Conv.  Archives,  and  printed  in  the  Prot.  Epis.  Hist.  Soc.  Collections,  I.  116. 

P.    291. 
The  Rev.  Andrew  Morton,  of  New  Jersey,  is  this  Missionary  referred  to  by  Mr.  Craig. 


568 

The  Original  Address  to  the  Proprietaries  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Historical  Society 
of  Pennsylvania.     It  is  signed  by 

"  Robt  Jenney,  Rector  of  Christ  Church, 
William  Smith,  President  of  the  Convention, 
George  Craig, 
Philip  Reading, 
William  Sturgeon, 
Hugh  Neill, 
Tho.  Barton, 
Cha"  Inglis, 
WM  Thompson, 
Jacob  Duche." 

P.    304. 

The  Rev.  William  Macclenachan's  course,  referred  to  again  and  again  in  the  minutes  of  this 
Convention,  and  also  in  the  unpublished  MSS.  of  this  period,  needs  but  little  notice  at  our 
hands.  The  "Smith  MSS."  contain  papers  relating  to  it  sufficient  to  fill  the  pages  of  a  volume, 
and  the  pamphlets  growing  out  of  the  controversy  in  which  this  miserable  man  involved  the 
Church  in  Pennsylvania,  are  still  preserved  in  our  Antiquarian  libraries.  Full  information 
respecting  his  career  in  Pennsylvania  will  be  found  in  "An  Appendix  to  the  American  Edition 
of  the  Life  of  Archbishop  Seeker :  containing  His  Grace's  Letter  to  the  Rev11  Mr.  Macclenachan 
on  the  Irregularity  of  his  Conduct;  with  An  Introductory  Narrative.  New  York,  1774.  8vo. 
pp.  xx.  28.  The  Presbyterian  side  is  told  by  Webster  in  his  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
pp.  287-291.  Dr.  Gillett,  in  his  History  of  the  same  body,  fails  to  notice  this  chapter  in  the 
Annals  of  American  Presbyterianism. 

References  to  Macclenachan's  career  will  be  found  in  Sewall's  History  of  Bath,  Me.,  in  the 
Maine  Hist.  Soc.  Collections,  II.  220,  221,  and  in  the  Hid  vol.  of  the  Collections,  pp.  274, 
275;  Smith's  Journal,  edited  by  William  Willis,  pp.  84,85;  Chandler's  Johnson,  pp.  184,  185; 
Anderson's  Col.  Church,  III.  pp.  273,  274;  Hawkins's  Missions,  p.  224;  Gadsden's  Life  of  Bp. 
Dehon,  p.  31;  Prot.  Epis.  Soc.  Hist.  Collect.  I.  p.  115;  II.  pp.  77,  95,  250-255,  256,  280,  294; 
N.  Y.  Col.  Documents,  VI.  pp.  398,  409-414,  415,  447,  449,  495,  and  elsewhere. 

Pp-  3lI>  312- 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Harris  referred  to  was  probably  a  clergyman  from  the  West  Indies,  several 
of  that  name  having  been  licensed  to  Barbadoes  and  Jamaica,  between  1752  and  1759.      Vide 
Gen.  Conv.  MSS.,  under  date  of  1777. 

P.    312. 

Further  reference  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Inglis,  afterward  First  Bishop  of  Nova  Scotia,  will  be 
made  in  connection  with  the  Delaware  MSS. 


5^9 

P.   319. 

No  notice  of  the  early  Church  history  of  Pennsylvania  would  be  complete  without  allusion 
to  the  Rev.  Jacob  Duche,  and  indication  of  the  sources  from  whence  the  story  of  his  eventful 
career  may  be  learned.  The  son  of  a  prominent  Churchman  of  the  same  name — which  has  sev- 
eral times  appeared  on  our  pages — he  was  the  first  graduate  of  the  College  and  Academy  of 
Philadelphia,  under  the  Provostship  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  William  Smith,  among  whose  papers 
are  numerous  letters  from  his  pupil,  covering  the  whole  period  of  his  early  manhood  and  min- 
istry. After  a  further  term  of  study  at  the  University  of  Cambridge,  England,  he  received 
Holy  Orders  and  was  licensed  to  officiate  in  the  united  churches  in  Philadelphia.  The  story  of 
his  connection  with  the  opening  scenes  of  the  War  for  Independence  and  his  subsequent  defection 
from  the  principles  he  had  so  warmly  espoused  at  the  first,  is  told  in  the  sketch  of  Dr.  Duche, 
found  in  Dr.  Sprague's  Annals  of  the  Am.  Epis.  Pulpit,  pp.  180-185,  and  in  the  references 
below.  His  interest  in  the  measures  taken  to  secure  the  Episcopate  in  the  Anglican  line  after 
the  war,  is  alluded  to  in  the  notes  of  the  reprint  of  the  early  Journals  of  the  General  Con- 
vention, edited  by  Dr.  Hawks  and  Mr.  Perry,  and  is  more  fully  disclosed  in  the  unpub- 
lished letters  among  the  Bp.  White  MSS.  in  the  Archives  of  the  General  Convention.  These 
letters,  and  those  of  a  later  date,  addressed  to  the  first  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania — his  life-long 
friend — furnish  many  interesting  details  respecting  the  ecclesiastical  annals  of  the  time,  and 
throw  no  little  light  on  the  strange  infatuation  to  which  Dr.  Duche  yielded  for  a  number  of 
years.  This  infatuation  was  the  belief  in  the  vagaries  of  Swedenborg.  Notices  of  Dr.  Duche' s 
career  will  be  found  in  Hazard's  Col.  Records,  XI.  759,  762,  773,  XII.  578;  Penn.  Archives, 
VI.  6,  VIII.  684;  Register  of  Penna.  IX.  81  ;  Sparks's  Life  and  Writings  of  Washington,  V. 
94,  476;  Irving's  Washington,  I.  399,  400;  American  Archives,  IV.  series  i.  802,  899;  ii.  1820, 
1824;  iii.  1899;  Dorr's  Christ  Church,  113,  114,  118,  120-122,  124,  130-135,  164,  167, 
176-190,  211,  283,  284,  289;  Penn.  Hist.  Society  Memoirs,  I.  149-151 ;  Historical  Magazine, 
V.  346,  347;  Anderson's  Colonial  Church,  III.  275-277;  Updike's  Hist.  Nar.  Ch.,  242-244; 
Collect.  Prot.  Epis.  Hist.  Soc.  II.  113;  Hindmarsh's  Rise  and  Progress  of  the  N.  J.  Church, 
40-42;  New  Jerusalem  Magazine,  XXX.  95-104;  and  elsewhere. 

P-  323- 
The  Rev.  Samuel  Keene  became  a  clergyman  of  great  prominence  in  Maryland.  Notices 
of  him  appear  in  Hawks's  Eccl.  Contributions,  I.  Maryland,  p.  291,  et  seq.  ;  in  Dr.  Allen's  Notices 
of  the  Maryland  Clergy,  pp.  5,  6,  10,  n  ;  in  "Notices  and  Journals,  and  Remains  of  Journals," 
etc.,  1783-88  (edited  by  Ethan  Allen,  D.D.),  pp.  4,  7,  13,  14,  16,  19,  22,  26,  27,  32;  in  the 
Am.  Archives,  IV.  series  i.  426;  in  "An  Address  to  the  Members  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  of  Maryland,'  containing  an  Account  of  the  proceedings  of  some  late  Conventions  both 
of  Clergy  and  Laity,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the  said  Church,"  etc.,  pp.  11,  15;  in 
Hawk's  and  Perry's  Reprint  of  the  Early  Journals ;  in  Bioren's  Reprint  of  the  same;  in  the 
Early  Maryland  Journals,  and  elsewhere. 

pP-    324,  325- 
Full  notices  of  the  Rev.  EricUnander  appear  in  Dr.  Clay's  Annals  of  the  Swedes,  pp.  in, 
112,  122,  174. 


57o 
P-  336- 

Following  the  order  of  time,  we  insert  several  interesting  letters  and  papers  illustrating  the 
history  of  the  College  and  Academy  of  Philadelphia,  as  well  as  ecclesiastical  matters,  from  the 
Smith  MSS.,  whence  several  volumes  might  be  advantageously  culled.  They  require  no  further 
annotation  than  their  respective  headings,  transcribed  from  the  originals,  afford. 

My  Lord, 

Though  your  Grace  did  not  seem  to  desire  any  further  Account  of  the  State  of  Church 
affairs  in  our  College,  yet  as  some  Things  were  forgotten  by  me,  &  the  whole  is  but  short ;  I 
have  thought  it  best  to  commit  it  distinctly  to  writing. 

So  much  of  my  Credit  with  our  Trustees,  &  the  future  service  I  may  be  able  to  do  to  the 
Church  in  a  very  great  and  growing  City,  depends  upon  the  Countenance  which  my  present 
Design  may  meet  with,  that  I  cannot  help  being  extremely  sollicitous  on  this  Head,  &  hope  your 
Grace  will  pardon  it. 

It  will  be  easily  seen  that  Sundry  Parts  of  the  enclosed,  is  rather  for  the  Private  Satisfaction 
of  those  concerned,  than  for  any  very  public  Use. 

I  am,  Your  Grace's 

Ever  obliged  &  dutiful  Serv', 

WILLIAM  SMITH. 
London,  April  17th,  1762. 


STATE  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  PHILADELPHIA. 

[To  the  Archb'p  of  Cant'y,  Ap'l,  1762. — A  State  shown  by  his  Grace  to  the  Bishops — Respecting  the  Church  of 

England. Upon  the  Principles    of  this  Was  the  Brief  granted  &  the  Collection  made  in  England — See  the 

Brief.]* 

By  Charter  granted  May  14th,  1735,  it  is  made  a  Corporation  to  consist  of  24  Trustees,  or 
Visitors,  with  a  Faculty  or  Body  of  Masters  for  the  immediate  government  &  Care  of  the  youth, 
to  consist  of  a  Provost,  Viceprovost,  and  as  many  Professors  as  the  Trustees,  from  time  to  Time, 
should  think  fit  to  appoint. 

Originally  18  of  the  24  Trustees  happened  to  be  members  of  the  Church;  &  now  21  are 
members  of  the  same ;  &  Mr.  Peters,  the  President  of  their  Board,  is  a  Clergyman  of  the  Church, 
as  is  also  Mr.  Duche,  another  of  the  Trustees. 

At  the  time  of  passing  the  Charter,  there  subsisted  a  very  great  Dispute  at  New  York, 
about  the  Clause  in  the  Charter  of  their  College  which  required  the  President  to  be  always  in 
the  Communion  of  the  Church;  and  this  Dispute  proved  very  hurtful  to  that  Infant  Seminary. 

The  Trustees  of  the  Philadelphia  College,  who  had  from  the  Beginning,  when  they  acted 
without  a  Charter,  always  had  a  Churchman  at  the  Head  of  the  Seminary,  &  had  resolved  that 
it  would  be  always  best  to  continue  Things  on  this  Footing,  as  well  because  every  Society  was 
willing  to  prefer  one  of  this  Persuasion  to  all  others  except  their  own,  as  also  on  Account  of  the 
number  of  West-India  Youths  always  sent  to  them  for  Education — I  say  the  Trustees,  for  these 


*  Endorsement  on  the  back. 


57i 

and  other  Reasons,  thinking  it  right  that  this  should  be  their  Constitution,  yet  began  to  think 
whether  they  might  not  avoid  the  Inconveniences  &  Disputes  which  some  other  Charters  had 
occasioned,  &  yet  by  other  means  answer  all  the  good  Ends  proposed  by  the  disputed  Clauses 
in  those  Charters. 

They  therefore  got  themselves  incorporated  with  general  and  unlimited  Powers  to  "  consti- 
tute and  appoint,  in  such  manner  as  they  should  think  best  and  convenient,  a  Provost,  Vice- 
"provost,  and  other  Professors,  &c,"  knowing  that  they  would  always  think  it  best  to  have  a 
Churchman  at  the  Head  of  the  Seminary,  and  that  21  in  24  would  always  have  the  Power  to 
constitute  such  a  one,  &  yet  avoid  the  offence  which  an  exclusive  Clause  in  the  Charter  would 
give  to  other  Societies ;  provided  that  the  Proprietors  of  the  Province  could  have  passed 
such  a  Clause,  wch  in  fact  they  could  not. 

On  the  same  footing  is  the  Society  for  Propagati?ig  the  Gospel  incorporated.  The  Clause 
is  general  for  "the  Maintenance  of  a  learned  and  Orthodox  Clergy."  But  as  the  Persons 
incorporated  were  Churchmen,  it  was  never  doubted  but  under  this  Clause  they  would  always 
judge  those  of  their  own  Persuasion  to  be  the  Orthodox  Clergy  intended ;  &  that  under  a  Suc- 
cession of  Church-People  in  that  Corporation,  the  Funds  would  always  be  perfectly  secure  to 
the  Service  of  the  Church. 

But  tho'  the  Trustees  of  the  College  of  Philadelphia  proceeded  with  this  Caution  in  respect 
to  any  exclusive  Clause,  yet  does  the  Charter  in  the  very  Body  of  it  constitute  a  Clergyman  of 
the  Church  as  the  first  Provost  of  the  College,  leading  the  way  by  a  sort  of  Prescription  to  all 
future  appointments  of  a  chief  Master. 

On  public  occasions,  Commencements,  Charity  Sermons,  and  the  like,  the  Services  of  the 
Church  is  always  used ;  &  the  daily  Prayers  for  Morning  &  Evening  in  the  College  is  a  Form 
composed  &  collected  by  Church  Ministers,  &  printed  by  order  of  the  Trustees. 

About  y±  of  the  whole  youth  are  of  the  Church ;  which  majority  of  Church-People  arises 
from  there  being  about  80  Strangers  from  the  West  Indias  and  Southern  Colonies  always  edu- 
cating in  the  Institution. 

On  the  whole,  the  Church  is  on  as  good  a  Footing  in  this  Seminary  even  as  at  New 
York.  For  tho'  the  President  of  the  New  York  College  is  by  Charter  of  the  Communion  of  the 
Church,  yet  by  the  same  Charter  the  Dissenting  Ministers  of  all  the  different  Denomina- 
tions in  the  City  are,  ex-officio,  established  as  Governors  of  the  College ;  whereas  in  Phila- 
delphia there  can  be  none  made  Trustees  or  Governors  of  the  College  but  by  the  Election  of 
the  present  Trustees. 

N.  B.  Whatever  is  given  to  Church  Purposes  in  this  College  will  be  carefully  applied 
according  to  the  Intention  &  Direction  of  the  Donors. 


THE   REV.   DR.   SMITH   TO   THE  BISHOP   (OBALDISTON)   OF  LONDON. 

April,  1762. 
My  Lord, 

The  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  have  long  found  themselves  under  Difficulties  in 

carrying  on  their  Good  Designs,  for  want  of  some  Societies  of  Correspondence  in  America  to 


572 

give  them  due  Intelligence  of  Things  necessary,  and  two  or  three  Agents  under  them  to  take 
Bonds  from  the  People  for  the  effectual  Payment  of  the  Sums  subscribed,  to  take  Care  of  the 
Libraries  sent  by  the  Society  into  these  Parts,  and  do  such  other  Things  as  they  may  be  in- 
structed from  Time  to  Time. 

The  Society  have  now  before  them  Proposals  for  remedying  these  Inconveniences  upon  a 
Plan  almost  wholly  the  same  with  that  which  I  had  the  Honor  to  lay  before  your  Lordship  near 
two  years  ago.  This  Plan  has  been  well  considered  by  the  two  Archbishops,  the  Bishops  of  Durham 
and  Winchester,  who  with  your  Lordship,  the  Secretary,  and  myself  were  appointed  a  Committee 
for  that  Purpose ;  &  the  Bishop  of  Winchester  has  wrote  to  your  Lordship  on  the  Subject. 
The  Society  are  to  meet  on  Friday  next  to  take  this  matter  before  them  &  come  to  proper 
Resolutions  upon  it. 

At  present  it  is  proposed  to  have  but  three  Agents,  viz.,  one  for  Massachusetts,  Rhode 
Island,  &  New  Hampshire,  one  for  New  York  and  Connecticut,  &  one  for  Pennsylvania  &  New 
Jersey;  these  being  the  Countries  where  the  chief  of  the  Societies  lie.  In  each  of  these  Dis- 
tricts it  is  proposed  to  have  some  of  the  Principal  Gentlemen  as  a  Society  to  advise  &  assist 
these  Agents  &  to  transmit  faithful  Accounts  to  your  Lordp  &  the  Society.  The  Business  of  the 
Agents  will  be  a  Business  of  Labor,  not  of  Profit  or  Power.  They  are  to  sollicit  larger  Subscrip- 
tions from  the  People,  to  take  Bonds  for  the  Payment  in  the  Society's  Name,  &  see  that 
these  Contracts  are  duly  fulfilled ;  &  they  can  do  nothing  without  advice.  Much  Good  may 
also  be  expected  from  the  corresponding  Societies,  not  only  in  the  Article  of  giving  faithful 
Intelligence,  but  likewise  in  Countenancing  those  who  are  to  execute  whatever  Orders  your  Lord- 
ship or  the  Society  may  give ;  and  when  that  happy  Time  arrives  when  it  shall  please  God  to 
bless  us  with  the  Government  of  Bishops  on  the  spot,  these  Societies  will  no  doubt  be  the  first 
to  take  them  by  the  Hand,  &  to  support  them  in  the  Discharge  of  their  Office.  Another 
material  Benefit  expected  from  this  Design  is  the  establishing  more  Missions  &  Schools  among 
the  Indians,  which  it  is  feared  can  never  be  done  effectually  till  some  leading  Men  in  America 
are  thus  associated  to  assist  the  Society  in  it. 

If  it  be  agreeable  to  your  Lordship,  I  believe  it  will  fall  to  my  Share  to  set  this  Design  on 
foot  for  Pennsylvania  &  New  Jersey.  I  am  to  set  out  on  Friday  evening  next  for  Falmouth,  to 
embark  for  America  in  the  Packet,  &  would  take  Bath  in  my  Way  to  pay  my  Duty  to  your 
Lordship  if  you  think  it  convenient.  It  is  at  the  earnest  Desire  of  the  Missionaries  of  our  Parts 
that  I  would  take  any  share  of  this  Business,  &  they  have  fully  signified  their  good-will  to  me  in 
an  Address  to  your  Lordship.  Many  of  them  have  been  my  Pupils,  &  I  have  the  Happiness  to 
be  well  in  their  Esteem. 

I  hope  your  Lordship's  Health  is  so  well  restored  as  that  I  may  be  honored  with  two  or 
three  Lines  from  your  Lordship  or  Dr.  Parker  before  Friday :  as  the  Society  would  be  willing 
perhaps  to  do  something  farther  in  this  Matter  before  I  go.* 


*  From  the  original  draft  among  the  Smith  MSS. 


573 

DR.  SMITH   TO   THE   ARCHBISHOP  OF   YORK. 

London,  26th  August,  1762. 
My  Lord, 

Having  by  the  kind  Interposition  of  the  Archbp  of  Canterbury  obtained  a  joint  Brief  for 
our  College  &  that  of  New  York,  attended  with  signal  Marks  of  the  Royal  Favor  and  Bounty, 
it  is  our  Duty  to  consider  by  what  Means  the  said  brief  may  be  made  the  most  effectual  for  our 
Purpose ;  especially  as  two  Objects  are  united  in  one,  &  the  Sum  which  we  want  very  consider- 
able. If  the  Clergy  should  interest  themselves  no  more  than  is  usual  in  the  common  Run  of 
Briefs,  and  raise  us  only  the  common  Sum  of  £800  or  perhaps  ^1000,  this,  when  divided,  would 
go  but  a  short  way.  But  on  the  Contrary,  if  they  could  be  induced  to  take  the  Matter  to  heart, 
&  improve  the  Arguments  suggested  by  the  Brief,  it  is  hoped  the  Business  might  be  made  very 
popular,  and  the  Collection  considerable. 

Now,  my  Lord,  if  it  could  any  way  be  notified  to  the  Clergy  that  the  Design  of  this  Col- 
lection is  particularly  approved  by  our  good  Archbishops,  &  that  your  Grace  considers  the 
Encouragement  of  these  American  Seminaries,  as  particularly  connected  with  your  pious  &  noble 
Designs  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  there,  I  am  well  persuaded  it  would  be  the  means  of 
doubling  our  Collection.  Thus  much,  if  only  annexed  by  way  of  Testimonial  or  Certificate  to 
a  short  printed  Account  of  the  two  Colleges,  and  dispersed  along  with  the  Brief,  which  the 
Undertakers  promise  to  do,  would  answer  our  End. 

The  enclosed  Clause  from  our  Brief  shews  that  there  is  no  Impropriety  in  this ;  though  we 
do  not  desire  any  Thing  for  particular  Dioceses,  nor  by  way  of  Injunction  or  Command  to  the 
Clergy;  but  only  something  to  notify  an  Approbation  of  the  Design  by  your  Grace  as  above. 
For  we  have  not  time  to  apply  to  each  particular  Bishop  upon  the  Plan  pointed  out  in  the 
Clause,  before  the  Season  of  laying  down  the  Brief,  which  will  commence  in  a  few  weeks. 

Permit  me,  my  Lord,  just  to  hint  one  Thing  more  which  the  Secretary  of  Briefs  told  me ; 
viz. — That  the  enclosed  Clause  has  only  been  inserted  in  such  Briefs  as  are  given  by  Orders  of 
Council,  for  promoting  &  preserving  the  Protestant  Religion  in  Foreign  Parts,  &  where  the 
Collection  is  all  over  the  Kingdom ;  so  that  there  is  no  Danger  that  any  Thing  done  in  this 
Affair  can  be  drawn  into  Precedent  to  give  Trouble  in  future  Briefs  granted  on  the  common 
Plan  for  Losses  within  the  Kingdom,  rebuilding  Churches,  &c.  In  short,  all  that  we  humbly 
request  is  only  such  a  Certificate  in  Favour  of  our  Colleges  as  we  should  have  ventured  to  ask, 
even  if  we  had  proceeded  without  a  Brief,  on  a  common  printed  Case  of  our  Wants. 

These  Things  are  most  humbly  and  dutifully  submitted  to  your  Grace,  which  I  have  taken 
the  Liberty  to  do,  after  having  just  come  from  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  who  was  pleased 
to  say  he  would  write  to  your  Grace  on  this  Subject,  &  that  there  might  be  no  Impropriety  in 
my  sending  a  few  Lines  at  the  same  time.  With  the  utmost  Gratitude  to  your  Grace  for  your 
past  Kindness,  &  a  sincere  Desire  in  all  Things  to  prove  myself  not  unworthy  of  its  Contin- 
uance, I  am,  &c.  

To  his  Grace  the  Lord  Archbp  of  York.* 

*  From  the  original  draft  preserved  among  the  Smith  MSS. 


574 

ARCHBISHOP  SECKER   AND  OTHERS,   RE  PECTING   THE   ESTABLISHMENT   OF   THE 

COLLEGE  OF   PHILADELPHIA. 

To  the  Trustees  of  the  College  of  Philad*. 
Gentlemen, 

We  cannot  omit  the  opportunity  which  Docf  Smith's  Return  to  Philadelphia  gives  us  of 
congratulating  you  on  the  great  Success  of  the  Collection  which  he  came  to  pursue,  and  of 
acknowledging  your  obliging  Addresses  of  Thanks  to  us  for  the  Share  we  had  in  recommending 
and  encouraging  this  Design.  Such  a  Mark  of  your  attention  to  us  will,  we  doubt  not,  excuse 
our  hinting  to  you  what  we  think  may  be  further  necessary  to  a  due  Improvement  of  this  Col- 
lection and  the  future  Prosperity  of  the  Institution  under  your  Care. 

This  Institution  you  have  professed  to  have  been  originally  founded  and  hitherto  carried 
on  for  the  general  Benefit  of  a  mixed  Body  of  People.  In  his  Majesty's  Royal  Brief,  it  is 
represented  as  a  Seminary  that  would  be  of  great  use  "for  raising  public  Instructors  and 
Teachers,  as  well  for  the  Service  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  as 
for  other  Protestant  Denominations  in  the  Colonies."  At  the  time  of  granting  this  Collection, 
which  was  sollicited  by  the  Provost,  who  is  a  Clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England,  it  was 
known  that  there  was  united  with  him  a  Viceprovost  who  is  a  Presbyterian,  and  a  principal 
Professor  of  the  Baptist  Persuasion,  with  sundry  inferior  professors  and  Tutors,  all  carrying  on 
the  Education  of  Youth  with  great  Harmony;  and  People  of  various  Denominations  have  here- 
upon contributed  liberally  and  freely. 

But  Jealousies  now  arising  lest  this  Foundation  should  afterwards  be  narrowed,  and  some 
Party  endeavour  to  exclude  the  Rest,  or  put  them  on  a  worse  Footing  than  they  have  been  from 
the  Beginning,  or  were  at  the  Time  of  this  Collection,  which  might  not  only  be  deemed  unjust 
in  itself,  but  might  likewise  be  productive  of  Contentions  unfriendly  to  Learning  and  hurtful 
to  Religion,  We  would  therefore  recommend  it  to  you  to  make  some  Fundamental  Rule  or 
Declaration  to  prevent  Inconveniencies  of  this  kind ;  in  doing  of  which,  the  more  closely  you 
keep  in  view  the  Plan  on  which  the  Seminary  was  at  the  time  of  obtaining  the  Royal  Brief,  and 
on  which  it  has  been  carried  on  from  the  Beginning,  so  much  the  less  Cause  we  think  you  will 
give  for  any  Party  to  be  dissatisfied. 

Wishing  continual  Prosperity  and  Peace  to  the  Institution,  We  are,  with  great  Regard, 
Gentlemen, 

Your  faithful  Friends  and  Servants, 

THO.   CANT, 

THO.  &  RICH0  PENN, 

SAM1  CHANDLER.  * 

April  9,h,  1764. 

I  as  a  Trustee  approve  of  this  Letter :  witness  my  hand, 

Will.  Allen. 

*  From  the  original  MSS. 


575 

HONB'LE  THOS.    PENN   TO   THE  TRUSTEES  OF   THE   COLLEGE. 

Gentlemen, 

As  Doctr  Smith,  your  worthy  Provost,  is  now  on  his  departure  for  Pennsilvania,  I  take  this 
opportunity  by  him  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  Letter  of  the  11th  of  January  1763,  and 
to  do  justice  to  his  conduct  in  the  execution  of  the  Commission  you  gave  him  the  charge  of. 
With  regard  to  the  first,  I  should  not  have  thought  myself  worthy  the  regard  of  such  People, 
whose  good  opinion  every  honest  Man  would  covet,  had  I  omitted  any  opportunity  of  serving 
such  a  Cause  as  the  advancement  of  your  College,  from  whence  so  great  advantages  will,  in  all 
probability,  be  derived  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Pennsilvania ;  the  Subscription  was  the  Act  of  the 
Proprietors,  which  you  will  take  notice  of  in  your  Books,  as  by  your  Letter  to  me  I  apprehend 
you  conceived  it  to  be  my  private  benefaction. 

With  regard  to  Dr.  Smith's  conduct  in  his  sollicitations  for  subscriptions,  I  think  he  merits 
the  highest  commendations  and  that  he  has  laid  great  obligations  on  ever}-  Man  who  has  the 
welfare  of  this  Institution  at  heart ;  he  has  been  so  constantly  attentive  to  this  object,  and  so 
zealously  concerned  to  establish  it  effectually,  that  no  other  seemed  to  have  any  place  in  his 
thoughts,  or  any  labour  to  be  regarded  that  was  necessary  to  serve  the  Cause. 

His  Success  has  been  great,  and  I  make  no  doubt  of  your  care  so  to  place  the  Money  out 
that  the  principal  Sum  may  be  secured  so  as  always  to  remain  a  fund,  the  Interest  of  which  only, 
or  the  produce  of  Land  purchased  with  that  Money,  may  be  applyed  to  the  Support  of  the 
College,  this  being  what  the  Contributors  fully  depend. 

I  make  not  the  least  doub  tbut  that  the  College  will  now,  under  your  direction,  be  carried 
on  so  as  effectually  to  answer  every  reasonable  expectation,  which  I  most  heartily  wish,  and 
assuring  you  of  my  good  offices  wherever  they  will  contribute  to  so  good  a  purpose, 

I  remain, 

Gentlemen, 

Your  very  affectionate  Friend, 

THO.  PENN.* 

London,  April  12th,  1764. 

ARCHBISHOP   SECKER   TO  THE   REV.  M».  PETERS. 

Good  ME.  Peters, 

I  recd  and  read  your  Letter  of  ye  2  2d  October  w'  great  Pleasure.  But  I  have  had  the  Gout 
almost,  if  not  quite,  ever  since;  wch  hath  attack'd  not  only  my  Feet,  but  my  Hands,  in  such  a 
Manner,  that  for  a  long  Time  I  was  not  able  to  write  so  much  as  my  Name,  and  now  I  can 
write  but  very  little,  without  doing  myself  Harm. 

However,  I  cannot  let  Dr.  Smith  go  without  sending  you  a  Line  by  Him.  Providence 
hath  bless'd  our  Endeavours  here,  for  the  Benefit  of  his  College,  much  beyond  my  Expectation. 
And  indeed  his  Abilities  and  Diligence  have  been  the  chief  Instruments  of  the  Success. 

Dissenters  have  contributed  laudably ;  but  the  Members  of  the  Church  of  England,  and 
particularly  the  Clergy,  have  been  proportionably  more  liberal.  Doubtless,  they  were  induced 
to  it  by  the  Allegation  in  the  Brief,  that  this  Seminary,  and  that  of  New  York,  would  be  ex- 


From  the  original  MS. 


576 

tremely  useful  in  educating  Missionaries  to  serve  the  Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel.  And 
therefore  I  hope  the  Trustees  of  the  College  of  Philadelphia  will  be  careful  to  make  Provision, 
that  all  such  as  are  designed  for  Clergymen  of  our  Church  shall  be  instructed  by  a  Professor  of 
Divinity  who  is  a  Member  of  our  Church  ;  which  may  surely  be  done  without  giving  any 
Offence  to  Persons  of  other  Denominations :  a  Fault  that  by  all  Means  should  be  studiously 
avoided ;  as  I  doubt  not,  thro'  your  Prudence,  it  may  and  will.  And  with  due  Precaution,  the 
Thing  is  necessary  to  be  done. 

My  Hand  admonishes  Me  that  I  have  gone  my  Length.  I  have  many  Things  to  say  to 
you ;  but  must  postpone  them  till  we  meet,  if  it  please  God  to  give  us  Life  and  Health  for  it. 
I  have  heard  within  these  few  Days  that  you  have  been  very  ill.  May  the  Father  of  Mercies 
preserve  you  for  the  Good  of  his  Church. 

I  am,  with  very  great  esteem, 

Your  loving  Brother, 

Lambeth,  Ap.  1 3,b,  1764.  [Signed]        THO.  CANT. 


HONBL'S   THOS.  AND   RICHD    PENN   TO   THE   TRUSTEES. 
Gent", 

In  Compliance  with  your  Request  in  your  Address  to  us,  we  have  given  our  Assistance  to 
Dr.  Smith  for  putting  forward  your  Intention  of  Collecting  money  for  the  Use  of  the  College 
of  Philadelphia;  and  have  had  the  Pleasure  to  find  that,  by  the  benevolent  dispositions  of  y° 
People  of  this  Country,  and  the  constant  Attention  &  Labor  of  Dr.  Smith,  a  very  large  Sum  of 
Money  has  been  collected,  to  which  we  have  added  five  hundred  Pound  Sterling ;  which 
together  will  be  at  least  as  large  a  Sum  of  Money  as  the  most  Sanguine  did  expect. 

We  heartily  wish  you  Success  in  your  Endeavours  for  the  Improvement  of  Mankind,  for 
wch  Purpose  you  may  be  always  assured  of  our  Encouragement. 
We  are,  with  great  Regard, 

Gentlemen, 

Your  very  affectionate  Friends, 

THO.  PENN, 
London,  Apr.  12th,  1764.  RICHD  PENN. 

To  the  Trustees  of  the  College  of  Philadelphia. 


Sir, 

The  great  Zeal  with  which  you  have  sollicited  the  Contributions  for  the  Benefit  of  the  Col- 
lege of  Philadelphia  must  entitle  you  to  the  Regard  and  Esteem  of  every  Person  that  wishes 
well  to  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania:  And,  as  I  am  perfectly  sensible  of  it,  I  was  willing  to 
make  my  Acknowledgements  to  you  for  it,  &  to  assure  you  of  my  Friendship  on  all  Occasions ; 
as  a  Token  of  which  I  desire  your  Acceptance  of  the  enclosed  Draft  on  my  Banker  for  fifty 
Pounds,  &  am,  Your  affec'  Friend, 

THO.  PENN. 

Spring  Garden,  Apr.  9th, 
To  Revd  D\  Smith. 


577 

ANSWER. 

Hon"  and  worthy  Sir, 

The  kind  Sense  which  you  have  express'd  of  my  sincere  &  well-meant  Endeavours  to  serve 
the  College  of  Philadelphia,  makes  an  Impression  on  my  Heart,  which  no  Length  of  Time  can 
erase.  The  Hopes  of  obtaining  your  Approbation  in  the  End,  animated  me  thro'  a  Series  of 
Labors  and  Difficulties,  which  would  have  cool'd  an  ordinary  Zeal ;  and  the  best  Reward  I  can 
enjoy  is  the  Prospect  you  give  me  of  your  future  Protection  &  Countenance,  while  you  think  I 
continue  to  merit  it. 

I  was  far  from  wishing,  or  having  any  immediate  Need  of,  the  generous  Mark  of  your 
favor  which  accompanied  your  most  obliging  Note;  but  the  Manner  of  bestowing  it  was  so  truly 
honorable  to  me,  that  I  do  with  the  utmost  Gratitude  receive  it. 

I  have  never  gone  in  the  least  Instance  6ut  of  my  Way  to  make  Use  of  the  Opportunities 
I  might  have  had  here  for  benefiting  myself;  chusing  to  rely  solely  on  your  Goodness,  as  Head 
of  the  Country  where  I  live,  to  make  my  Settlement  easy  &  useful  in  it. 

Nothing  but  that  Regard  which  every  Man  must  feel  for  a  growing  Family,  and  the  Fears 
of  Leaving  them,  after  a  Life  of  the  greatest  Labor,  in  a  worse  Situation  than  the  Children  of 
the  meanest  Tradesman,  would  have  induced  me  to  open  my  Heart  to  you  in  the  free  Manner  I 
did  this  Morning;  &  your  truly  kind  Intentions  of  future  Kindness  to  me  will  send  me  home 
happy  in  the  View  of  my  own  Situation,  &  happy  in  the  Issue  of  my  Endeavors  for  the  Service 
of  the  College. 

Please  to  accept  my  Assurances,  that  so  far  as  my  Judgment  or  Abilities  can  carry  me,  you 
shall  ever  find  me,  in  all  Prudence,  earnest  to  promote  the  best  Interests  of  the  Country  with 
which  you  are  so  closely  connected,  &  which  I  know  you  &  your  Family  will  always  consider 
as  inseparable  from  your  own  Interests. 

There  were  several  Gentlemen  with  me  when  your  Servant  delivered  your  kind  Note,  or  I 
would  have  answered  it  immediately.     I  am,  with  great  Gratitude  &  Regard, 

Hon4  Sir, 

Your  most  obliged  &  obd' 

Humble  Serv', 

London,  Apr  9th,  1764.  WILL.  SMITH. 

To  the  Honbie  Thos  Penn,  Esqe. 


MR.   CHANDLER   TO   REV.   RICHD    PETERS. 
Revd  &  dear  Sir, 

I  hope  our  good  Friend,  Dr.  Smith,  will  deliver  this  safe  &  in  good  Health  into  your  Hand, 
and  that  he  will  find  you  entirely  recovered  from  every  Indisposition  &  thoroughly  established 
in  your  Health,  which  I  know  will  be  very  pleasing  to  Him,  &  will  give  the  highest  Satisfaction 
to  me.  The  Dr.  has  been  indefatigable  in  his  Endeavours  to  serve  the  Philada  College,  & 
greatly  successful.  He  well  deserves  the  sincerest  Thanks  of  all  the  Trustees,  of  the  several 
Professors  &  Masters,  &  all  who  wish  well  to  the  College,  and  indeed,  in  general,  of  all  ye 
Friends  of  Knowledge  &  Learning. 

I  cannot  help  further  recommending  him  to  the  Esteem  of  all  our  common  Friends  in 
Philad"  in  that  he  hath  not  only  exerted  himself  with  an  unremitting  Zeal  in  Reference  to  the 


578 

Collection,  but  hath  shown  an  honest  &  public  Concern  for  the  future  Peace  &  Prosperity  of  the 
College. 

As  there  have  been  some  Suspicions  entertained  on  both  Sides  that  the  present  Consti- 
tution of  it  may  be  altered,  and  the  Professors  &  Masters,  now  of  different  Denominations,  in 
Time  may  all  be  of  one  prevailing  Denomination  to  the  Exclusion  of  those  of  the  other,  by  the 
Art  &  Power  of  the  Prevailing  Party;  and  as  the  Doctor  justly  apprehended  this  would  be 
contrary  to  the  Intention  of  those  who  have  contributed  towards  the  Support  of  the  College 
(who  have  been  of  all  Parties  amongst  us)  and  inconsistent  with  the  Prosperity  of  yc  Institution 
itself,  by  his  Desire,  I  waited,  Monday  last,  on  the  good  Archbp  of  Cant5',  where,  with  the  Dr., 
we  freely  debated  this  Affair  for  an  Hour  together.  His  Grace,  a  Friend  to  Liberty,  and  highly 
approving  the  present  Plan  on  which  the  College  is  established,  gave  his  Opinion  that  this 
Plan  should  be  preserved  without  Alteration.  I  had  the  Honor  entirely  to  agree  with  the 
Archbp,  and,  on  Dr.  Smith's  proposing  to  him  that  a  Letter  to  the  Trustees  representing  our 
Judgment  in  this  Affair,  &  signed  by  both  of  us,  might  be  of  some  AVeight  to  keep  Things  on 
their  present  Footing  and  prevent  all  future  Jealousies  on  either  Side,  he  readily  assented  to  it. 

A  Letter  to  this  Purpose  was  read  &  signed  by  us  Both,  wch  the  Dr.  will  have  the  Pleasure 
of  shewing  You.  I  do  not  expect  that  I  can  be  considerable  enough  in  myself  to  have  any 
great  Influence  in  an  Affair  of  this  Nature.  But  as  my  Judgment  is  supported  by  that  of  so 
worthy  a  Prelate,  and  as  I  apprehend,  by  the  Reason  of  the  Thing  itself,  I  hope  it  will,  as  his 
Judgment,  have  the  good  Effect  of  preventing  all  future  Jealousies,  and  of  establishing  Peace  & 
Harmony  amongst  all  the  worthy  Professors,  &  of  promoting  Religion,  Learning,  and  Liberty, 
which  I  pray  God  may  long  continue  to  flourish  in  that  Seminary. 

As  the  [free]  Schools,  &c,  in  Pennsylvania  are  now  at  an  End,  tho'  I  could  have  obtained 
his  Majesty's  Bounty  for  the  Continuance  of  them,  had  it  been  of  any  Consequence  to  have 
upheld  them  longer,  you,  Sir,  and  the  rest  of  our  worthy  Trustees,  have  my  most  sincere  and 
warm  Thanks  for  the  Care  and  Integrity  you  have  shewn  in  this  Affair ;  and  I  will  take  Care 
you  shall  have  all  due  Acknowledgments  of  the  Society  upon  their  first  Meeting. 

Your  last  Account  I  have  recd,  ag'  which  there  can  be  no  possible  Exception.  We  have  got 
some  Moneys  left,  which  I  shall  use  my  Endeavours  shall  for  the  most  Part  be  applied  to  the 
Use  of  the  College.  You  will  do  well  to  appropriate  whatever  outstanding  Debts  may  come 
in,  to  the  Use  of  the  Charity  School ;  for  which  Purpose  I  intend  to  keep  in  my  Hands  a  small 
Sum  that  yet  remains  with  me ;  for  which  I  shall  desire  at  a  proper  Time  to  be  drawn  on.  I 
have  honored  your  Draught  to  Mess".  Barclay  for  ^ioo.  I  am,  with  the  sincerest  Affection  and 
esteem, 

Revd  &  Dear  Sir, 

Your,  &c, 

To  Rev"  MR.  Peters.  SAM.  CHANDLER. 


FROM    DR.    LLEWELIN,    SOUTHAMPTON    STREET,    Bl.OOMSBURY,   TO    REV.    DR.    EDWARDS,    PHILAD'A. 

(extract.) 

April  i2,h,  1764. 
*       *       *        "  I  congratulate  you  also  on  the  extraordinary  Success  of  our  common  Friend, 
Dr.  Smith.    You  ought  to  welcomehim  Home  with  Ringing  of  Bells,  I  Humiliations,  and  Bonfires. 


579 

The  Professors  of  the  College  in  Particular  (for  which  he  has  collected  upwards  of  Six  thousand 
Pounds  Sterling)  ought  to  meet  him  at  least  Half  Way  from  New  York,  &  from  thence  usher 
him  into  Philadelphia  with  all  the  Magnificence  and  Pomp  in  their  Power.  The  Scholars, 
Students,  and  Fellows  should  all  attend  the  Cavalcade,  in  their  proper  Order  and  Habits ;  and 
the  Procession  should  march  thro'  the  principal  Parts  of  the  City,  and  terminate  at  the  Lecture 
Room,  or  rather  Hall,  where  Verses  and  Orations  in  various  Languages  should  be  delivered  in 
Praise  of  Knowledge  and  Learning, — in  Praise  of  the  Liberality  and  Generosity  of  the  Mother 
Country,  of  the  Unanimity  &  Harmony  of  her  Colony  of  Pennsylvania,  &  especially  of  the 
Catholic  College  of  Phllad",  with  Vows  for  its  Continual  Prosperity  and  Success. 

"As  a  Baptist,  as  a  Friend  of  Learning,  as  a  hearty  Approver  of  a  Plan  so  free  and  open,  I 
would  add  my  Wish  quod  felix  faustumque  sit.  As  a  Graduate  of  the  College,  as  a  dutiful  Son 
of  this  Alma  Mater — you  will  readily  join  in  every  Act  of  Rejoicing  on  this  Account. 

"  If  it  was  in  my  Power  to  make  any  Laws  for  this  Seminary,  or  any  Alteration  in  its  settled 
or  intended  Plan,  it  should  only  be  that  the  Professors  should  rank,  or  become  Provost,  &c, 
according  to  their  Seniority  or  Standing  in  the  College,  in  future  Elections.  I  should  wish 
this,  not  only  as  it  may  open  a  Way  for  you  ad  Cathedram,  but  as  it  seems  to  me  to  be  more  fair 
&  equal,  &  more  consistent  with  the  Rest  of  the  Plan.  But  as  it  is,  it  is  a  very  good  Thing,  &  I 
wish  all  concerned  may  duly  improve  it,  &  be  ever  careful  to  preserve  it  from  any  Alteration 
for  the  worse." 


FROM  REV.  DR.  STENNET  TO  REV.  MR.  MORGAN  EDWARDS,  Philad'a. 

(extract.) 

London,  Apr  12,  1765. 

*  *  *  K  jjr  Smith,  you  see,  has  met  with  extraordinary  Success.  I  wrote  partic- 
ularly on  those  Matters  in  one  of  my  last.  The  Plan  is,  I  think,  exceeding  good.  What  some 
have  feared  is,  lest  it  should,  in  Time,  be  perverted.  But  Dr.  Smith  assures  us  every  possible 
Method  will  be  taken  to  prevent  an  Abuse  of  the  Institution. 

"What  he  proposes  relative  to  our  Interest  in  your  Parts  is  the  raising  a  Sum  to  furnish 
Exhibitions  for  the  Encouragement  of  such  a  Number  of  young  Persons  as  shall  be  thought 
needful  to  send  to  the  College.  You  are  to  have  your  own  Divinity  Tutor.  If  you  can  agree 
upon  any  Scheme  of  this  Sort,  &  can  raise  any  Thing  among  you  towards  it,  it  may  be  very 
well.  But  you  are  best  Judges  yourselves.  If  any  Assistance  could  be  given  you  by  your 
Friends  here,  I  shd  rejoice  in  promoting  it.  But  I  am  not  authorized  from  any  to  give  you 
Assurances  of  this  Sort.     You  know  pretty  well  how  it  is  with  our  Interest  here." 


PP-    344-346. 
Occasional  references  to  the  Rev.  Alexander  Murray  are  found  in  the  Memoirs  of  the  Prot. 
Epis.  Church,  by  Bishop  White,  and  numerous  letters  of  his  are  preserved  among  the  MSS.  of 


58o 

the  General  Convention.      Vide,  among  other  notices,   Hawk's  and  Perry's  Reprint  of  the 
Early  Journals,  I.  pp.  630,  631,  640,  641. 

P-    349- 
The  early  controversies  respecting  the  Rev.  Richard  Peters,  detailed  in  the  pages  of  this 
volume,  will  not  be  forgotten.     The  best  answer  to  the  harsh  judgments  and  evil  surmises  of 
those  who  opposed  him,  will  be  found  in  his  laborious  life,  closed  by  an  honored  and  useful 
ministerial  service  of  thirteen  years. 

Pp.    378-381. 

The  Rev.  Andrew  Morton,  of  New  Jersey,  is  the  clergyman  referred  to.  An  allusion  to 
him  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

P.    411. 

The  Rev.  Paulus  Bryzelius  became  missionary  to  the  Germans  of  Lunenburg,  N.  S.,  vide 
Akins's  Provincial  Church,  18,  19,  20,  25;  Hill's  Nova  Scotia  Church,  11,  16,  31;  and 
Hawkins's  Missions  of  the  Ch.  of  Eng.,  357,  365. 

P.    412. 

The  Rev.  John  Andrews  and  the  Rev.  Samuel  Magaw  are  too  well  known,  from  their  con- 
nection with  the  measures  taken  for  the  reorganization  of  the  Church  after  the  War  for  Inde- 
pendence, to  require  any  detailed  notice.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Edmiston  settled  in  Maryland,  but 
returned  to  England  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  The  Rev.  William  Dunlap  removed  to 
Virginia,  and  succeeded  Commissary  Robinson  in  the  rectorship  of  the  parish  of  Stratton-Major, 
King  and  Queen  County.  Vide  Thomas's  Hist,  of  Printing,  II.  58,  59;  Meade's  Old  Churches 
and  Families  of  Virginia,  I.  325,  374;  New  York  Gazette  for  May  2,  1768;  Order  Book,  Wil- 
liamsburg, Va.,  1776,  edited  by  Charles  Campbell,  19,  68,  84. 

P.    413. 

A  biographical  sketch  of  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Evans  will  be  found  in  Hazard's  Register,  VI. 
147.  Another,  the  work  of  Provost  Smith,  prefaces  a  volume  of  "  Poems  on  Several  Occasions, 
with  some  other  Compositions.  By  Nathaniel  Evans,  A.M.  Late  Missionary  (appointed  by 
the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel)  for  Gloucester  County,  in  New  Jersey;  and  Chaplain  to 
the  Lord  Viscount  Kilmorey,  of  the  Kingdom  of  Ireland.  Philadelphia:  Printed  by  John 
Dunlap,  in  Market  street,  M,DCC,LXXII."  121110,  pp.  xxvi.  160,  24.  This  work  and  its 
author  receive  appropriate  notice  in  Duyckinck's  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Literature,  I. 
pp.  237,  238. 

P.    416. 

A  clergyman  by  the  name  of  George  Spencer  was  licensed  to  New  Jersey,  by  the  Bishop  of 
London,  on  January  19,  1767.  On  the  24th  of  April  of  the  same  year,  he  was  licensed  to  South 
Carolina  {vide  Coll.  of  the  Prot.  Epis.  Hist.  Soc.  I.  pp.  in,  117).     In  the  list  among  the  Gen. 


58i 

Conv.  MSS.  he  is  noted  as  "dead."  It  does  not  appear  that  he  ever  labored  in  either  prov- 
ince. His  name  does  not  appear  in  the  exhaustive  list  of  South  Carolina  clergy  given  by  Dr. 
Dalcho  in  his  History  of  the  Church  in  that  province,  pp.  432-436. 

No  further  mention  of  "  Shippen  "  is  to  be  found  in  connection  with  any  mission  or 
parish  in  America.  The  Rev.  John  Sayre  was  licensed  to  "America  in  general,"  in  1768, 
labored  in  Connecticut  till  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution,  and  then  emigrated  to  Nova 
Scotia.  Vide  Beardsley's  Church  in  Connecticut,  277;  Am.  Archives,  IV.  iii.  142,  143,  144, 
832;  Barber's  Hist.  Coll.  of  Conn.,  359,  360;  Akin's  Provincial  Church,  39;  and  elsewhere. 

Pp.    416,  417. 

The  Rev.  Hugh  Wilson,  a  nephew  of  the  Rev.  Hugh  Neil,  and  the  Rev.  Samuel  Giles, 
were  drowned  on  the  5th  of  April,  1766,  on  their  return  voyage  from  England.  Vide 
Hawkins's  Missions  of  the  Church  of  England,  pp.  125,  300,  325. 

P.    424- 

Christian  Frederick  Post,  a  German  Moravian,  had  lived  among  the  Indians  for  seventeen 
years.  His  journal  of  his  adventures  among  them,  when  on  a  mission  to  withdraw  certain 
tribes  from  the  French  interest,  is  published  in  the  Appendix  to  Proud's  History  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, II.  pp.  65-132.  He  is  referred  to  in  Hazard's  Colonial  Records,  VIII.  132,  137,  138, 
142,  147,  148,  212,  223,  301,  341,  455,  469,  491,  676;  and  in  the  Penn.  Archives,  III.  412, 
422,  520,  524,  560-565,  578,  581,  689,  700,  702,  706,  709,  742;  IV.  92-98,  277. 

P.  425. 
The  Rev.  John  Montgomery  was  licensed  to  Maryland,  where  he  established  himself.  Vide 
Allen's  Hist.  Notices  of  St.  Ann's  Parish,  81-86,  88.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Coombe  became  one 
of  the  Assistant  Ministers  of  the  united  churches  in  Philadelphia,  but  on  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war,  after  for  a  time  espousing  the  popular  side,  he  became  a  royalist,  and  finally  retired  to 
England  and  never  returned.  Vide  Dorr's  Christ  Church,  168-171,  182,  183,  186,  191-194, 
197,  290;  Sprague's  Annals  of  the  Am.  Epis.  Pulpit,  90,  280,  281;  Hazard's  Col.  Records, 
XI.  284,  299,  300,  525,  527;  XIII.  122;  Penna.  Archives,  V.  575,  600,  603;  VI.  626,  627; 
and  Duyckinck's  Cyclop.  Am.  Literature,  I.  130. 

pP-  435*  436- 
An  interesting  and  valuable  monograph  by  the  Hon.  John  William  Wallace,  President  of 
the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  gives  the  history  of  the  noble  charity  of  which  the 
inception  is  recorded  on  this  page.  The  title  of  this  pamphlet  is  as  follows,  viz.  :  "A  Cen- 
tury of  Beneficence:  1769-1869.  Historical  Sketch  of  the  Corporation  for  the  Relief  of  the 
Widows  and  Children  of  Clergymen  in  the  Communion  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania ;  and  of  the  Colonial  and  Revolutionary  Corporation  which 
preceded  it,  and  in  the  line  of  which  it  continues.  By  John  William  Wallace.  Philadelphia : 
1870."     8vo,  pp.  93.     The  references  in  the  letter  of  Dr.  Smith,  on  p.  435  of  this  volume, 


5§2 

fully  confirm  the  inference  made  by  Mr.  Wallace,  unaided  by  direct  proof,  that  this  celebrated 
clergyman  was  the  moving  spirit  in  this  work  of  beneficence ;  but  it  should  not  be  forgotten 
that  the  organization  of  a  similar  Society,  in  1754,  in  Virginia,  as  detailed  in  the  first  volume  of 
the  Historical  Collections  of  the  Am.  Col.  Church  (pp.  417-419,  423,  426,  428),  was  the  initia- 
tive, so  far  as  this  continent  was  concerned,  in  this  charitable  work.  The  earliest  publication 
of  this  Society  passed  to  a  second  edition.  Its  title  is  as  follows:  "Some  Account  of  the 
Charitable  Corporation,  lately  erected  for  the  Relief  of  the  Widows  and  Children  of  Clergy- 
men, in  the  Communion  of  the  Church  of  England  in  America ;  with  a  Copy  of  their  Charters, 
and  Fundamental  Rules.  And  also  a  Sermon,  Preached  in  Christ-Church,  Philadelphia, 
October  10,  1769,  before  the  said  Corporation,  on  Occasion  of  their  First  Meeting.  By  Wil- 
liam Smith,  D.D.,  Provost  of  the  College  and  Academy  of  Philadelphia.  Published,  by  Order, 
for  the  Benefit  of  the  Charity.  The  Second  Edition.  Philadelphia:  Printed  by  D.  Hall  and 
W.  Sellers,  opposite  the  Jersey  Market.     M,DCCC,XX."     8vo,  pp.  56. 

P-    437- 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Fayerweather,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  settled  in  New  England, 
and  will  receive  notice  in  connection  with  the  volume  of  Rhode  Island  Papers. 

The  Rev.  Walter  Chapman,  licensed  to  Pennsylvania,  July  7,  1768  (vide  Prot.  Epis.  Hist. 
Soc.  Coll.,  I.  117),  "  did  not  go,"  and  the  Rev.  William  Stringer  was  subsequently  ordained  and 
licensed  to  St.  Paul's,  Philadelphia,  on  the  8th  of  March,  1773. 

P.    442. 

The  Rev.  John  Lyon,  licensed  to  New  England  in  1765,  is  referred  to  in  Meade's  Old 
Churches  and  Families,  I.  266,  267;  in  Updyke's  Hist,  of  the  Narragansett  Church,  pp.  318, 
319;  and  in  J.  W.  Wallace's  "  Century  of  Beneficence :  1769-1869."  P.  85.  He  died  prior 
to  1777. 

P.    446. 

The  name  of  the  Rev.  William  Ayres  will  be  noticed  in  connection  with  the  papers  relating 
to  the  Church  in  New  Jersey. 

Pp-    453-461. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Hopkinson  was  licensed  to  Pennsylvania  in  1773,  and  afterward  removed 
to  Virginia.      Vide  Meade's  Old  Churches,  etc.,  I.  325. 

Pp.   461,  462. 

The  Rev.  Fraugott  Fred.  Uling  was  licensed  to  Juniata,  in  1772.  The  Rev.  Bernard  Page, 
licensed  to  Wyoming  parish,  the  same  year,  removed  to  Virginia.  Notices  of  him  are  to  be 
found  in  Meade's  Old  Churches,  etc.,  I.  32  ;  II.  124,  297  ;  and  in  Bolton's  Westchester  Church, 
pp.  594,  603. 

P.    466. 

The  Rev.  John  Hamilton  Rowland  passed  a  useful  and  honored  ministry  in  Pennsylvania. 


583 

terminated  only  by  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  during  which  he  was  chaplain  to  one  of  the 
Royal  American  Regiments  (vide  Hist.  Magazine,  VIII.  365).  Removing  to  Nova  Scotia,  he 
became  the  incumbent  at  Shelburne,  where  his  son,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Rowland,  D.D.,  born  in 
Philadelphia  in  1771,  succeeded  him.  Brief  notices  of  Mr.  Rowland's  life  and  ministry  may 
be  found  in  Hill's  Nova  Scotia  Church,  p.  31 ;  and  Akin's  Provincial  Ch.,  p.  48. 

Pp-    47i»  473- 
A  slip  of  memory  possibly,  or  a  clerical  error  in  transcription,  has  assigned  an  incorrect 
date  for  this  important  Sermon,  the  title  of  which  we  give  in  full,  from  a  copy  lying  before  us : 

A 

SERMON 

Ox  the  PRESENT  SITUATION  of 
AMERICAN  AFFAIRS. 

Preached  in  CHRIST-CHURCH, 

June  23,  1775, 

At  the  Request  of  the  Officers  of  the 

Third  Batallion  of  the  City  of 

Philadelphia,  and  District  of  Southwark. 

By    WILLIAM    SMITH,    D.D., 

Provost  of  the  College  in  that  City. 

PHILADELPHIA: 

Printed  and  Sold  by 
JAMES  HUMPHREYS,  junior, 
The  Corner  of  Black-Horse  Alley,  Front-street. 
8vo.    Pp.  (4)  iv.  32.  M,DCC,LXXV. 

Running  through  several  American  editions,  in  Pennsylvania,  in  Delaware,  and  in  Massa- 
chusetts, it  was  again  and  again  republished  in  England  and  in  Ireland,  ten  thousand  copies 
being  issued  by  the  Chamberlain  of  London  for  general  distribution.  It  was  translated  into 
Welsh,  a  copy  of  the  "Pregeth  ar  Helynt  Bresennol  America,"  printed  at  Bristol,  England, 
being  preserved  in  the  Library  of  Brown  University,  Providence,  R.  I.  A  Swedish  version 
of  it  was  also  made  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wrangel,  whose  name  has  frequently  appeared  in  these 
pages.  Its  reception  is  best  detailed  in  the  Introduction  to  the  Sermon  as  contained  in  the 
writer's  Works,  edited  after  his  decease  by  Bishop  White  (II.  pp.  252-264).  VideaSso  Sprague's 
Annals,  pp.  159,160;  Rich's  Bibliotheca  Americana  Nova;  Duyckinck's  Cyclopaedia  of  Am.  Lit- 
erature ;  Allibone's  Diet,  of  Authors;  and  "The  Patriot  Preachers  of  the  American  Revolution, 
1 766-1 783,"  edited  by  Frank  Moore,  in  which  this  sermon  is  reprinted,  pp.  90-112. 


584 

P.    472- 

That  but  an  occasional  mention  of  the  venerated  name  of  William  White  appears  on  these 
pages,  is  not  to  be  construed  as  indicating  a  lack  either  of  material  from  his  pen  in  the  hands 
of  the  editor  of  this  volume,  or  of  confidence  in  the  importance  of  his  MSS.  as  illustrating 
our  Church  annals.  Only  the  fact  that  this  collection  of  papers  is  confined  to  the  colonial 
period  of  our  history  has  prevented  the  incorporating  of  papers  of  the  highest  interest  from  the 
pen  of  this  venerable  first  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania,  which  it  is  to  be  hoped,  a  few  years  later  will 
see  in  print,  as  a  worthy  memorial  of  one  to  whose  zeal  and  wisdom  the  American  Church  will 
ever  owe  the  deepest  obligation. 

P-    475- 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Tingley,  licensed  to  New  Jersey  in  1773,  and  officiating  for  a  time  in 
Pennsylvania,  subsequently  removed  to  Maryland.  Vide  Hawkins's  Missions  of  the  Ch.  of 
Eng.,  pp.  315,  317;  Allen's  "Notices  and  Journals,  and  Remains  of  Journals,"  pp.  8,  22,  33, 
36;  Allen's  Maryland  Clergy,  p.  15  ;  Journal  of  the  Maryland  Convention,  1791,  pp.  5,  7,  9  ; 
and  elsewhere.  The  Rev.  Daniel  Batwell  became  a  chaplain  in  one  of  the  loyalist  regiments 
during  the  war,  and  finally  removed  to  England,  where  he  died.  Vide  Hist.  Mag.,  VIII.  356 ; 
Hazard's  Penn.  Archives,  V.  770;  VI.  95,  144;  VIII.  107;  Hawkins's  Missions  of  the  Ch.  of 
Eng.,  315  ;  Gadsden's  Life  of  Bp.  Dehon,  38. 

Pp.    477,  479. 
The  titles  of  these  three  sermons  are  as  follows : 

THE    DUTY    OF    STANDING    FAST    IN    OUR    SPIRITUAL    AND    TEMPORAL    LIBERTIES  \       AS  ERMON, 

Preached  in  Christ-Church,  July  7th,  1775,  before  the  First  Batallion  of  the  City  and 
Liberties  of  Philadelphia;  and  now  published  at  their  Request.  By  the  reverend  Jacob 
duche,  M.A. 

8vo.    Pp.  iv.  24.         PHILADELPHIA.     Printed  and  Sold  by  james  Humphreys,  junior. 

Text,  Galat.  v.  1.  M,DCC,LXXV. 

the  AMERICAN  VINE,  a  sermon,  preached  in  Christ-Church,  Philadelphia,  before 

THE  HONOURABLE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  20th,  I  775-  BEING  THE  DAY  RECOMMENDED  BY 
THEM  FOR  A  GENERAL   FAST  THROUGHOUT  THE   UNITED  ENGLISH  COLONIES  OF  AMERICA.       By  THE 

Reverend  Jacob  Duche,  m.a. 

8vo.    Pp.  34.    PHILADELPHIA.    Printed  By  JAMES  HUMPHREYS,  Junior.    M,DCC,LXXV. 
Text,  Psalm  LXXX.  xiv. 

A  SERMON,  preached  before  the  Congregations  of  christ  church  and  ST.  peter' s 

PHILADELPHIA,  On  THURSDAY,  JULY  20,  1 775.  BEING  THE  DAY  RECOMMENDED  BY  THE  HONOR- 
ABLE CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS  FOR  A  GENERAL  FAST  THROUGHOUT  THE  TWELVE  UNITED  COLONIES 
OF  NORTH-AMERICA.       By  THOMAS   COOMBE,  M.A.,  CHAPLAIN  tO    the  Most    Noble    the    MARQUIS   OF 

Rockingham.     Published  by  request. 

8vo.    Pp.29.  PHILADELPHIA:  Printed  by  JOHN  DUNLAP.    M.dcc.lxxv. 

Text,  2  Chron.  XX.  11,  12,  13. 


5^5 

The  first  of  these  sermons  is  reprinted  in  Moore's  "  Patriot  Preachers  of  the  American 
Revolution,"  pp.  74-89. 

P.    481. 

The  names  of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Odell,  Panton,  and  Frazer  will  receive  notice  in  connection 
with  the  papers  of  the  New  Jersey  Church. 

Pp.    487-489- 
A  notice  of  the  writer  of  this  letter  will  be  found  in  Sabine's  American  Loyalists. 

P.    488. 

The  Rev.  Alexander  Adams,  of  Maryland,  son  of  a  clergyman  of  the  same  name,  is  doubt- 
less the  one  to  whom  reference  is  made. 

Pp.    494,  495. 

No  more  fitting  close  could  be  found  for  this  collection  of  papers  than  the  manly  and  inter- 
esting letter — among  the  last  penned  by  its  venerable  writer — which  is  given  on  these  pages. 
Abundant  notices  of  the  sufferings  of  the  "loyalist"  clergy  will  be  found  in  Hawkins's  Mis- 
sions of  the  Church  of  England  ;  in  Sabine's  American  Loyalists,  and  in  the  many  journals  and 
papers  of  the  day,  now  in  course  of  issue  under  the  care  of  our  historical  students  or  societies, 
or  already  given  to  the  world.  At  this  lapse  of  time,  while  recognizing  the  wisdom  of  a  White, 
in  espousing  so  warmly  the  popular  cause,  we  can  afford  to  recognize  with  its  meed  of  praise, 
the  sturdy  adherence  to  conscientious  views  of  allegiance  and  duty  which  led  so  many  of  the 
colonial  clergy  to  adhere  to  the  crown.     To  each  and  all  their  well-earned  praise. 


THE    END. 


INDEX. 


Abington,  near  Philadelphia,  238. 

Acrellius,  Rev.  Mr.,  Swedish  minister  of  Wilmington, 
Del.,  324. 

Academy  at  Philadelphia.  Indian  children  to  be  in- 
structed at,  279. 

Accomake,  in  Virginia,  61. 

Adams,  Rev.  Mr.,  of  Maryland,  426. 

Affleck,  Rev.  Mr.,  Swedish  minister,  181. 

Aiken,  or  Aitken.     Charges  against  one,  453. 

Alberger,  Christian,  398. 

Allen,  Mr.  William,  257. 

Allison,  Rev.  Francis,  D.D.  (Presbyterian),  Vice-Provost 
of  the  College  of  Philadelphia,  322,  405. 

Almshouse,  Philadelphia.     Weekly  sermons  at,  356. 

Alster,  Conrad,  398. 

Amboy,  New  Jersey.  Referred  to,  50  ;  vide  Perth  Am- 
boy. 

Amwell,  New  Jersey,  193. 

Anabaptist  minister  in  Philadelphia  (1698).  Reference 
to,  15. 

Anabaptists,  in  abundance  in  Pennsylvania,  60;  re- 
ferred to,  72,  77,  200,  222,  256. 

Anderson,  Richard,  warden  at  St.  John's,  Concord,  324. 

Andrews,  Rev.  John,  D.D.,  412,413  ;  letter  from,  to  the 
Secretary,  430,  431  ;  referred  to,  443;  letter  from, 
to  the  Secretary,  446;  ditto,  455. 

Annapolis,  152. 

Antwell.     Reference  to,  7. 

Apoquinimy,  or  Apoquiniminck.  Services  at,  35,  36; 
referred  to,  44,  49  ;  vestry  of,  desire  services,  50; 
referred  to,  51  ;  changes  at,  54;  letter  of  vestry  of, 
to  the  S.  P.  G.,  55,  56;  referred  to,  61,  62,  63; 
desolate  condition  of  church  at,  88 ;  referred  to,  99, 
in,  121,  132,  136,  145,  150;  members  of  church 
at,  to  Rev.  Mr.  Ross,  153,  154;  Rev.  Mr.  Hackett 
enters  upon  his  cure  at,  166;  referred  to,  184,  188; 


vacant,  191 ;  services  at,  195,  196;  referred  to,  201, 
202,  210,  214,  215,  244,  245,  261,  301,  313,  314; 
services  at,  342 ;  decent  and  regular  congregation 
at,  363 ;  new  church  at,  proposed,  382,  383 ; 
number  of  communicants  at,  465  ;  importance  of 
mission  at,  468,  469. 

Appleton,  Josiah,  88. 

Apthorp,  Rev.  East,  of  Massachusetts,  320. 

Arnold,  Rev.  Jonathan.  Charges  made  by  Whitefield 
against,  211;  letter  of  Whitefield  respecting,  212. 

Ashton,  Jonathan,  89. 

Assembly.  Interference  in  the  election  of,  1,  2;  gift  of, 
to  the  proprietary,  2 ;  led  by  David  Lloyd,  52 ;  ac- 
tion of,  respecting  expedition  to  Canada,  51,  52; 
seven  eighths  of,  Quakers,  107 ;  referred  to,  109 ; 
proceedings  of,  against  the  Rev.  Wm.  Smith,  262, 
263  ;  a  narrative  of  the  same,  264-268 ;  contro- 
versy between  the  proprietors  and,  referred  to,  269. 

Assembly's  Catechism,  171. 

Assheton,  Ralph.  Notarial  attestation  of,  89,  98 ;  re- 
ferred to,  90,  157. 

Arrowsmith,  I.,  schoolmaster  at  Philadelphia.  Letter  of, 
to  Gov.  Nicholson,  7;  reference  to,  15. 

Auchmuty,  Rev.  Dr.,  of  New  York,  364,  365,  401,  435. 

Augusta,  Fort.     Baptism  at,  439 ;  land  ceded  at,  440. 

Augustine  Parish,  in  Cecil  Co.,  Md.,  463,  464,  469. 

Ayres,  Rev.  Mr.,  446,  447. 

Backhouse,  Rev.  Richard.  Letter  from,  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Ven.  Soc,  161,  162;  ditto,  167;  re- 
ferred to,  171  ;  certifies  to  character  of  Rowland 
Jones,  171,  172;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  172, 
173;  signs  representation  of  Pennsylvania  clergy, 
174;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  179,  180;  ditto, 
181,  182;  ditto,  190;  ditto,  202;  ditto,  206;  ditto, 
216,  217;    ditto,  218,  219;  referred  to,    219,  220, 


588 


229  >  le'tc  from,  to  the  Sec,  242,  243  ;  ditto,  243, 
244;  ditto,  251,  252;  letter  from  widow  of,  to  the 
Secretary,    259;     death    of,    noticed,     260,     292, 

33°- 

Baird,  Patrick,  227. 

Baldwin,  Thomas,  signs  address  to  the  Ven.  Soc.  in  be- 
half of  the  church  in  Chester,  24. 

Baltimore,  Lord,  151,  200. 

Baltimore,  Maryland,  152. 

Bangor  Church.  Congregation  of,  to  the  Secretary  of 
the  S.  P.  G.,  258;  vide  Caernarvon. 

Bantoft,  William,  89. 

Baptisms  hindered  by  want  of  sureties,  201. 

Barbadoes.     Clergy  at,  412. 

Barclay,  Messrs.,  392. 

Barclay,  Mr.  David,  331. 

Barclay,  Rev.  Henry,  D.D.,  of  New  York.     Death  of, 

365- 

Barclay's  Apology,  205,  206. 

Bard,  Peter,  227. 

Barge,  Mr.  John,  warden  at  Oxford.  Diligence  and  in- 
dustry of,  239. 

Barnsly,  Thomas,  a  benefactor  of  St.   Paul's,  Chester, 

79- 

Barr,  Jacob,  398. 

Barton,  Rev.  Thomas.  Letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  275- 
281;  ditto,  282,  283 ;  letter  to  Gen.  Forbes,  283, 
284 ;  reply  to  the  same,  284 ;  referred  to,  285 ;  let- 
ter from,  to  the  Secretary,  293-295  ;  present  at  con- 
vention of  Pennsylvania  clergy,  295,  296,  299,  301, 
302,  303,  306;  account  of  mission  under,  315,316; 
signs  address  of  Pennsylvania  clergy  to  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  319;  referred  to,  326;  letter 
from,  to  the  Secretary,  328,  329;  referred  to,  331, 
332  ;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  339  ;  ditto,  343  ; 
ditto,  347-349;  referred  to  as  of  "  singular  merit," 
358  ;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  366-372  ;  ditto, 
387,388;  ditto,  400-402 ;  ditto,  406-409;  people 
at  Oxford  desire,  415,  421  ;  referred  10,426,428; 
letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  433,  434;  ditto,  436, 
437;  ditto,  448-451  ;  ditto,  454;  ditto,  467; 
preaches  sermon  on  civil  affairs,  477 ;  signs  letter 
to  Bishop  of  London,  481  ;  letter  from,  to  the 
Secretary,  489-491  ;  petition   of,  to  the  Assembly, 

491-493- 
Barton,  Robert,  227. 
Bath,  England,  413. 
Batwell,   Rev.    Daniel,  referred  to,  475 ;  preached  on 

fast  day,  477  ;  signs  letter  of  Pennsylvania  clergy, 

481  ;  letter  respecting,  487-489. 


Bearcroft,  Rev.  Dr.,  Secretary  S.  P.  G.  Letter  to,  from 
Rev.  Robert  McKean,  270-273 ;  referred  to,  302, 
304,  316,336,340;  vide  Society  for  Propagating 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts. 

Beard,  John,  a  Presbyterian  wishing  to  come  into  the 
Church,  462,  463. 

Becker,  Jacob,  398. 

Becket,  Rev.  William,  missionary  in  Sussex  Co.,  Del., 
124;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Soc, 
125,  126;  referred  to,  127  ;  signs  letter  of  Pennsyl- 
vania clergy,  133  ;  signs  answer  to  queries  of  Bishop 
of  London,  137;  referred  to,  145,  146,  150;  signs 
letter  of  Pennsylvania  clergy  to  the  Ven.  Soc,  155  ; 
signs  representation  of  Pennsylvania  clergy,  174. 

Beer.     Impost  laid  on  wine  and,  2. 

Beere,  John,  89. 

Bell,  William,  224. 

Bentridge,  James,  226. 

Benwick,  Dr.,  and  lady.     Referred  to,  25,  26. 

Berks,  County  of.  Church  of  England  people  in  the, 
283;  memorial  of  the  same  to  the  S.  P.  G.,  288, 
289;  state  of  the  mission  in,  316;  referred  to,  325, 
326,  358,  384,  387,  388. 

Bermingham,  Richard,  108. 

Berne,  Switzerland,  397. 

Berriman's  sermons,  370. 

Bethell,  Mr.,  Treasurer  of  the  S.  P.  G.,  261. 

Bethesda  College  in  Georgia,  381. 

Beveridge,  Bishop,  on  the  catechism,  70;  tracts  of,  441. 

Beyse,  Rev.  Mr.,  of  New  York.     Referred  to,  58. 

Bickham,  James,  Esq.,  magistrate.  Deposition  before, 
428. 

Biddle,  E.,  warden  at  Reading,  386. 

Bill,  William,  226. 

Biorck,  Rev.  Ericus.  Services  of,  61 ;  address  of  clergy 
recommending,  63. 

Birch,  Adam,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  Church  in 
Philadelphia,  7. 

Bird,  Andrew,  89. 

Bird,  William,  signs  representation  to  the  S.  P.  G.  for 
the  appointment  of  a  missionary  for  Berks  Co.,  289; 
wealth  of,  referred  to,  325. 

Bishops  and  Clergy  of  England.  Whitefield's  character 
of  the,  207. 

Bishops  for  America.  Need  of,  34,  37,  38,  42,  44,  45, 
72,  137  ;  claim  of  non-juring  clergy  in  Pennsyl- 
vania to  the  office  of,  138;  "  only  way  left  of  re- 
moving a  famine  of  the  Word,"  187  ;  want  of,  268, 
293;  addresses  respecting,  referred  to,  350,  351  ; 
presence  of,  desired,  366,  368;  scheme  respecting, 


5§9 


390 ;  jealousy  of,  among  dissenters,  394,  395,  420  ; 
difficulties  in  the  way  of  ordination  of  American 
candidates,  404,  405  ;  three,  few  enough,  405,  406  ; 
views  of  New  Jersey  clergy  respecting,  409,410; 
great  need  of,  423,  424;  controversy  respecting, 
427,  429;  wish  for,  442,  457,  459. 

Blackall,  Rev.  Mr.,  216,  243. 

Black,  Rev.  William,  of  Lewes,  Del.,  quits  his  appoint- 
ment, 49,  51 ;  gone  to  Virginia,  58,  61. 

Black,  William,  vestryman  at  Chester,  221. 

Blair,  Rev.  Commissary  James,  D.D.  Reference  to,  in 
connection  with  his  controversy  with  Gov.  Nichol- 
son, 29. 

Blany,  Anthony,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  Church 
in  Philadelphia,  7. 

Blew,  Mr.,  139. 

Boehmen,  Jacob.     System  of,  360. 

Boquet,  Col.,  352,  369. 

Bourne,  Thomas,  224. 

Bowd,  Grimston,  88. 

Bowell,  William,  88  ;  vide  Powell  ? 

Bowne,  Cornelius,  226. 

Braddock,  Gen.     Defeat  of,  referred  to,  276. 

Bradford,  413. 

Bradford,  Andrew,  88. 

Bradford,  Mr.,  printer  in  Philadelphia,  265,  267,  271. 

Bradley,  Edward,  226. 

Bray,  Rev.  Thomas,  D.D.  Exposition  of  the  Baptis- 
mal Covenant  by,  referred  to,  16. 

Brendly,  James,  88. 

Bridges,  E.,  227. 

Brinklow,  Captain,  64. 

Briscoll,  Thomas,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  Church 
in  Philadelphia,  6. 

Bristol.  Church  at,  vacant,  132,  136,  145,  146,  150 ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Lindsay  enters  upon  duty  at,  173;  re- 
ferred to,  301,434. 

Bristow,  Elizabeth,  89. 

Britain,  North.  Clergy  of,  distasteful  to  Vestry  of  Ap- 
poquinimink,  55. 

Brocden,  Charles,  1 76 

Brooke,  Rev.  John,  of  New  Jersey.  Letter  from  Col. 
Quarry  respecting  the  difficulty  of  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Moore  and  Brooks  with  Lord  Cornbury,  40. 

Brown,  Anne,  89. 

Bryzelius,  Rev.  Paulus.  Recommended  for  ordination, 
411. 

Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  407  ;  church  building  in,  434. 

Burlington,  New  Jersey.  Referred  to,  21  ;  address  of 
clergy  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  convened 


at,  to  the  Society,  62,  63 ;  differences  in  Church  at, 
composed,  65;  referred  to,  127,  133;  Society's 
house  at,  134;  carelessness  of  ministers  of,  193. 

Burnet,  Mr.,  134. 

Bury,  Edward,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  Church  in 
Philadelphia,  7. 

Byewell,  William,  224;  vide  Piewell  William. 

Bywater,  Jarvis,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  Church 
in  Philadelphia,  6. 

Byzallion,  Martha.  Gift  from,  to  St.  John's  Church, 
Pequea,  183,  244. 

Caernarvon.  New  church  at,  282 ;  laudable  zeal  at,  294; 
referred  to,  329;  benefaction  to,  348;  account  of 
church  at,  369  ;  referred  to,  387,  449. 

Calvinist  meeting-house  in  Philadelphia,  256 ;  ditto, 
Lancaster,  256,  313;  ditto,  Germantown,  287. 

Campbell,  Rev.  Alexander.  Letter  respecting  irregular- 
ities of,  153,  154;  complaint  of  clergy  to  the  Ven. 
Soc.  against,  155  ;  answer  of,  to  the  above,  156— 
158  ;  letter  to,  from  Maryland  clergymen,  158-160; 
law  suits  commenced  by,  166;  referred  to,  184. 

Campbell,  Rev.  Colin.  Copies  of  Bishop  of  London's 
sermons  sent  to,  301  ;  signs  letter  of  clergy  to  the 
Secretary,  380  ;  death  of,  406. 

Canada,  Bishop  of  (R.  C),  462. 

Canada.     Expedition  against,  51,  52. 

Caner,  Rev.  Henry,  D.D.,  320,  321. 

Canogochieg,  275. 

Canterbury,  Archbishop  of.  Assistance  of,  desired  in 
behalf  of  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,  6  ;  letter  to, 
from  Rev.  Edward  Portlock,  16;  referred  to,  28; 
letter  to,  from  Rev.  Wm.  Sturgeon,  268,  269;  re- 
ferred to,  296,  304,  305,  307  ;  address  of  clergy  of 
Pennsylvania,  to,  317-319;  referred  to,  327,354, 
363,  367,  381 ;  letter  from,  to  Rev.  Mr.  Duche,  389- 
391 ;  ditto  to,  from  Rev.  Mr.  Peters,  391-395 ;  pe- 
tition to,  from  St.  George's  German  Church,  396- 
398  ;  referred  to,  41 7,  420. 

Cantwell,  Richard,  warden,  62. 

Carlisle.  Referred  to,  275,  276,  278;  state  of  the  mis- 
sion at,  316;  subscription  of  church  at,  335; 
services  at,  340,  341  ;  stone  church  at,  344;  lottery 
for  finishing  church  at,  376 ;  referred  to,  407 ; 
church  at,  almost  finished,  429,430;  referred  to, 
446,  489. 

Carpenter.  Joshua,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  Church 
in  Philadelphia,  7  ;  one  of  th_e  Assembly,  21. 

Carter,  Thomas,  227. 

Cashe,  Caleb,  88,  98,  227. 


59Q 


Catechising.     Good  results  of,  referred  to,  236. 

Catechism.     Dr.  Beveridge  on,  70. 

Cedar  Creek.  Referred  to,  188;  sacrament  adminis- 
tered at,  43 1 . 

Chamberlavne,  Mr.  Referred  to,  57 ,  letter  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Ross  to,  67,  68. 

Chambers,  Joseph.  Charges  against,  426,  427,  428,  429  ; 
gone  to  Ireland  for  Orders,  436. 

Chancellor,  W.,  warden  of  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia, 
224,  226. 

Chandler,  Rev.  Thomas  Bradbury,  D.D.,  of  New  Jer- 
sey, 263,  394,  410  ;  "  Appeal  to  the  Public  "  by, 
427  ;  referred  to,  432,  434,  442,  476. 

Chapman,  Rev.  Walter,  413,  437,  438. 

Charitable  Corporation  for  the  relief  of  widows  and  or- 
phans of  deceased  clergymen,  435,  436,  480. 

Charlton,  Rev.  Mr.,  catechsit  at  New  York,  236,  237,  250- 

Chester.  Services  at,  23  >  church  at,  36  ;  referred  to, 
49 ;  parish  at,  vacant,  5 1  ;  vestry  of,  to  the  Secre- 
tary,  53,  54 ;  referred  to,  56,  58 ;  gentlemen  of,  to 
the  Society,  58,  59 ;  referred  to,  66,  69,  70,  77  ;  ac- 
count of  the  building  of  the  church  at,  78-80 ;  re- 
ferred to,  108;  state  of  church  at,  131  ;  referred  to, 
138,  145,  146,  150;  address  of  inhabitants  of,  to  the 
Ven.  Soc.,  152, 153-157,  161,  169;  referred  to,  179, 
181,  182,  185,  190,  202,  216;  application  of  St. 
Paul's,  for  schoolmaster,  219-221,  301 ;  mission  at, 
account  of,  314;  referred  10,232;  church  at,  350 ; 
great  number  of  Dissenters  at,  361  ;  referred  to,  290, 
292  ;  vide  Upland. 

Chichester.  Services  at,  23>  70 ;  fine  congregation  at, 
99;  alias  Marcus  Hook,  1 17;  address  of  inhabi- 
tants of,  to  the  S.  P.  G.,  152,  153;  referred  to,  185, 
186,  290,  291,  292  ;  vide  Marcus  Hook. 

Christ  Church,  Philadelphia.  Members  of  the  vestry  of, 
offered  a  share  in  the  Government,  2  ;  assistance  from 
Gov.  Nicholson  in  building,  etc.,  5,  6 ;  aid  for,  so- 
licited, 6;  full  congregation  at,  7  ;  referred  to,  15, 
17,  18;  flourishing,  20;  Dr.  Evans,  concerning, 
32-35  ;  referred  to,  43,  44,  45,  51,  57  ;  "becoming 
too  narrow,"  73,  74;  referred  to,  76,  77;  "bleed- 
ing condition  of,"  8 1  ;  referred  to,  84,  88,  91,  93, 
96,  97,  99,  103;  letter  from  Rev.  Mr.  Ross  to  the 
Vestry  of,  118;  referred  to,  127,  130;  independency 
of  Governor's  authority,  claimed  by-,  138,  143; 
Dr.  Welton  officiating  in,  138,  139;  Col.  Evans's 
memorial  respecting  condition  of,  139-142;  shut  up 
by  order  of  the  Governor,  143;  referred  to,  146, 
147;  800  communicants  in,  149;  referred  to,  183 
184,  198,  199;  sermons  at,  referred  to,  203;  White- 


field  preaches  in,  210  ;  denied  the  use  of  the  church, 
211;  Rev.  Mr.  Cummings  interred  in,  223;  church- 
wardens and  vestry  of,  to  Bishop  of  London,  223, 
224;  ditto,  225-227;  referred  to,  228,  230,  231, 
233»  234>  235>  236,  237,  242;  Dr.  Jenney  to  the 
vestry  of,  246-250;  referred  to,  260,  295,  296,  301 ; 
Dr.  Jenney's  letter  to  wardens  of,  308,  309 ;  action 
respecting,  310 ;  referred  to,  333  ;  closed  to  White- 
field,  363;  lottery  applied  for  in  behalf  of,  and  St. 
Peter's,  374,  392,  418. 

Christiana  Creek,  on  Delaware,  61. 

Christiana,  Del.,  153. 

Clandestine  Marriages.  Law  for  the  prevention  of,  173, 
174;  supplement  to  an  Act  to  prevent,  175,  176. 

Clarendon,  Lord.     Referred  to,  65. 

Clarke,  Henry,  227. 

Claypole,  George,  227. 

Clayton,  Rev.  Thomas.  Quaker  language  concerning, 
11  ;  letter  to,  from  Toomas  Martin,  12,  13;  letter 
from,  to  the  Maryland  clergy,  13,  14;  letter  from, 
to  the  Governor,  14,  15. 

Clergy,  meeting  of  the  northern,  account  of,  41 ;  meet- 
ing of,  at  Philadelphia,  to  consider  the  case  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Philips,  83-85  ;   vide  convention. 

Clinton,  Governor,  of  New  York,  250. 

Club,  Rev.  John,  schoolmaster,  character  of,  25  ;  address 
respecting,  43;  referred  to,  51;  persecuted  by  Rev. 
George  Ross,  44  ;  letter  of,  to  the  Secretary,  45-47  ; 
notice  of,  49  ;  prevailed  upon  to  resign  his  school, 
49;  officiates  at  Oxford,  49,  50;  mode  of  teaching 
not  liked,  51  ;  letter  of,  to  the  Sec.  of  the  Ven. 
Soc,  59,  61 ;  recommended  by  the  clergy  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  New  Jersey  to  the  Ven.  Soc,  62,  63 ; 
case  of,  referred  to,  71,  72;  signs  address  of  clergy, 
73 ;  referred  to,  76,  77 ;  signs  letter  to  Bishop  of 
London  respecting  Rev.  Francis  Philips,  85  ;  re- 
ferred to,  99;  death  of,  100,  103,  1 15. 

Clymar,  Richard,  88. 

Cockpit,  the,  142. 

College  of  Philadelphia.  Referred  to,  262,  322,  323; 
dwindling  away  in  a  mere  Presbyterian  faction,  389 ; 
trustees  of,  391,  392;  noticed,  414;  vide  Smith, 
William,  D.D. 

Collett,  Jeremiah,  signs  address  to  the  Ven.  Soc.  in  be- 
half of  the  church  in  Chester,  24 ;  a  benefactor  of 
St.  Paul's,  Chester,  79. 

Collins,  Edward,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  church  at 
Oxford,  IOI. 

Conastogoe,  or  Conestoga  (Lancaster),  services  at,  161, 
162,  163,  167;  inhabitants  of,  to  the  Ven.  Soc,  192. 


59i 


Concord,  services  at,  33,  77,99;  referred  to,  145,  146, 
150;  address  of  inhabitants  of,  to  the  S.  P.  G.,  152, 
153,  161  ;  referred  to,  179,  181,  182,  185,  190,  232, 
290,  291,  292,  324. 

Conihane,  Matthew,  88. 

Conner,  Charles,  warden  at  Chester,  221. 

Conninagar,  254. 

Connidaiguinam,  255. 

Constantine,  the  ship,  219. 

Continental  Congress.     Recommendations  of  the,  470, 

471.474- 
Conventions,  Annual,  of  the  clergy.     Referred  to,  336. 
Convention  of  the  New  Jersey  clergy,  364-366,  378-380, 

409,  410,  414,  415,  427. 
Convention  of  the  New  York  clergy,  20,  41. 
Convention  of  Pennsylvania  clergy,  131— 133,  295-31 1. 
Cooke,  Rev.  Samuel,  of  New  Jersey.     Present  at  a  Conv. 

of  Pa.  clergy,  295,  296,  299,  301,  302,  303;  signs 
address  to  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  319;  signs 
letter  of  clergy  to  the  Secretary,  380;  referred  to, 

410,  435.  446. 

Coombe,  Rev.  Thomas,  D.D.  Recommended  for  Orders, 
425,  426;  referred  to,  435,  461  ;  sermon  of,  on  fast 
day,  477,  479- 

Cooper,  Rev.  Myles,  LL.D.,  president  of  King's  Col- 
lege, New  York,  421,  435,  476. 

Cordiner,  Mr.,  68. 

Cornbury,  Lord.  Letter  from,  to  the  Bishop  of  London, 
17,  18;  vindication  of,  by  Col.  Quarry,  40. 

Court-house  in  Boston.  Use  of,  tendered  to  minister  and 
people  of  the  Church  of  England,  8,  9. 

Coxe,  Col.,  of  New  Jersey.  A  good  friend  of  the  mis- 
sionaries, 102;  referred  to,  133,  134. 

Cox,  Mr.  John,  merchant.  Grant  of  land  from,  for  use 
of  the  church,  407. 

Cox,  William,  89. 

Craddocke,  William,  227. 

Craig,  Rev.  George.  Letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  187; 
ditto,  290-293;  referred  to,  299,  301,  302,  303,  304  ; 
appointed  on  a  committee  of  the  Convention,  305  ; 
account  of  the  mission  of,  314;  signs  address  to 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  319;  letter  from,  to  the 
Secretary,  330;  attests  certificate  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Unander,  314;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  330; 
ditto,  340;  ditto,  350,351;  ditto,  361;  ditto,  405, 
406  ;  ditto,  422-424  ;  ditto,  442  ;  referred  to,  475  ; 
signs  letter  of  Pennsylvania  clergy,  481. 

"  Craighead,  One,  a  furions  leveller"  (Presbyterian), 
254- 

Crapp,  Susannah,  88. 


Craven,  Thomas,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church 
in  Philadelphia,  7. 

Crawford,  Rev.  Thomas,  missionary  at  Dover  Hundred. 
Referred  to,  25  ;  scandalous  conduct  charged  upon, 
49  ;  referred  to,  64,  66. 

Croghan,  Col.,  415. 

Crosthwaite,  William,  226. 

Cumberland  County.  Sufferings  of,  277  ;  petition  of 
Church  people  in,  285,  286  ;  appointment  of  mis- 
sionary to,  302;  state  of  church  at,  316;  referred 
to,  358,  407. 

Cummins,  Rev.  Archibald,  Commissary  of  the  Bishop 
of  London.  Letter  to,  from  Thomas  Glentworth, 
respect'ng  Dr.  Welton,  139  ;  supplying  Christ 
Church,  Philadelphia,  145  ;  letter  from,  to  Bishop 
of  London,  148,  149  ;  signs  letter  to  the  Society, 
155  ;  referred  to,  176;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary, 
177;  ditto,  180,  181 ;  ditto,  191 ;  referred  to,  198, 
199;  letter  from,  to  Bishop  of  London,  200;  letter 
from,  to  the  Secretary,  203;  ditto,  210;  ditto,  210, 
21 1  ;  referred  to,  212  ;  death  of,  223,  224,  228,  233  ; 
referred  to,  234. 

Curry,  Rev.  William.  Letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  208, 
209;  ditto,  281,282;  copies  of  Bishop  of  London's 
sermons  sent  to,  301 ;  requested  to  preach  Conven- 
tion Sermon,  302 ;  account  of  mission  of,  315  ;  letter 
from,  to  the  Secretary,  352  ;  ditto,  377  ;  referred  to, 

475- 

Curtis,  John,  135. 

Curtis,  Thomas,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church 
in  Philadelphia,  7. 

Cutler,  Rev.  Timothy,  D.D.,  of  Massachusetts,  321. 

Cutting,  Rev.  Leonard,  of  New  "ork,  signs  address  of 
the  clergy  to  the  Secretary,  380. 

Daires,  Robert,  227. 

Danbury,  Rev.  Mr.,  (?)  New  Jersey,  416. 

Danforth,  Gov.,  John.  Letter  from,  to  Gov.  Markham, 
8,9. 

Danger,  Edward,  signs  address  to  the  Venerable  Society, 
in  behalf  of  church  in  Chester,  24. 

Darby,  Captain.     Referred  to,  9. 

Dauby,  John,  warden  at  Philadelphia,  224,  226. 

David,  Peter,  227. 

Davies,  Robert,  89. 

Davies  (or  Davis),  William,  signs  address  to  the  Vener- 
able Society,  in  behalf  of  church  in  Chester,  24. 

Davis,  Edmund,  88. 

Davis,  Joseph,  88. 

Davis,  Merick,  warden  at  St.  David's,  Radnor,  120. 

f  avis,  William,  of  Radnor.    Services  at  the  house  of,  120. 


592 


Declaration  of  Independence,  483,  494. 

De  Laune,  Rev.  Dr.,  411. 

Delisle,  Rev.  Chabrand,  chaplain  at  Montreal,  454. 

Denton,  Thomas,  88. 

Derby,  Earl  of,  198. 

Dicas,  Stephen,  227. 

Dimes,  James,  warden  at  Reading,  386. 

Divinity  lectures  at  Philadelphia,  425,  426. 

Dodd,  Nathaniel,  88. 

Douglas,  George,  vestryman  at  Molatton,  389. 

Dover  Hundred.  Referred  to,  49;  arrival  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Henderson  at,  64 ;  referred  to,  66  ;  desolate  con- 
dition of  church  at,  82  ;  referred  to,  245;  glebe  at, 
287;  referred  to,  301 ;  account  of  mission  at,  312, 
313;  miserable  situation  of  the  church  at,  336,  337; 
glebe  at,  338,  339;  referred  to,  364,  mission  at, 
vacant,   406;  clergyman  appointed  to,  413. 

Dowarthy,  Ferdinando,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the 
church  in  Philadelphia,  7. 

Dragon,  ship,  293. 

Dublin,  University  of,  referred  to,  23. 

Duch6,  Anthony,  88,  227. 

Duch6,  Rev.  Jacob,  D.D.  Referred  to,  262;  present  at 
Convention  of  the  Pennsylvania  clergy,  295,  296, 

299,  3OI>  302,  3°3,  3°4.  3°S.  3o6>  311  ;  signs  ad- 
dress to  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  319 ;  referred 
to,  325 ;  espouses  the  views  of  Whitefield,  354, 360, 
365  ;  referred  to,  386  ;  letter  to,  from  the  Archbish- 
op of  Canterbury,  389-391 ;  referred  to,  392,  393, 
418,  419;  signs  letter  to  Bishop  of  London,  426; 
letter  of  Messrs.  Peters,  Smith,  and  others,  to  the  Sec- 
retary, 460,  461 ;  ditto,  466,  467  ;  referred  to,  444, 
451,  453;  sermon  on  situation  of  affairs,  471,  477, 
479;  signs  letter  of  Pennsylvania  clergy,  472. 

Duchess,  Jacob,  227, 

Duck  Creek.  Immoralities  of  clergyman  officiating  at, 
referred  to,  245. 

Duke  of  York,  151. 

Dunlap,  Rev.  William,  of  Virginia.  Comments  upon, 
412,  413,  416,  421. 

Duquesne,  Fort,  276. 

Durham,  Deanery  of,  41 1. 

Dutch  Calvinists  in  Philadelphia  propose  union  with  the 
Church,  367. 

Dyer,  Mr.     Letter  to,  from  Mr.  Grafton,  105,  106. 

Dyre,  William,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church  in 
Philadelphia. 

Easton,  Northampton  Co.,  316. 
Easttown,  169. 


Eaton,  Edward.  Controversy  of,  with  Rev.  Mr.  Rud- 
man,  26-28  ;  signs  address  to  Ven.  Soc,  as  church- 
warden at  Oxford,  46;  death  of,  60. 

Eden,  Robert,  Esq.,  Gov.  of  Maryland,  463,  464. 

Edgill,  Simon,  88. 

Edmiston,  Rev.  Edward,  of  Maryland,  412. 

Edwards,  Thomas,  120. 

Egremont,  Lord,  390. 

Kilbeck,  Philip,  schoolmaster  at  Chester,  23,  24. 

Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey.      Referred  to,  50,  65. 

Ellis,  John,  89. 

Ellis,  Robert,  227. 

Emerson  Lambert,  227. 

Emmanuel  Church,  Newcastle,  in;  vide  New  Castle. 

Estherton.     Town  of,  407,  408. 

Evans,  Gov.  John.  Letters  of,  to  Rev.  Philip  Stubs,  25- 
28  ;  referred  to,  66. 

Evans,  Col.  Peter,  High  Sheriff.  Slanderous  stories  re- 
specting, 90,  91  ;   referred  to  95,  224,  228,  229. 

Evans,  Evan,  D.D.  Referred  to,  17;  signs  address  to 
Bishop  of  London,  in  favor  of  Rev.  John  Thomas, 
18,  19;  letter  of,  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  20;  let- 
ter of,  to  Rev.  Mr.  Keith,  20,  21  ;  referred  to,  25, 
27 ;  letter  from  Bishop  of  London  respecting,  30 ; 
referred  to,  31  ;  state  of  the  church  in  Pennsylva- 
nia by,  32-39;  referred  to,  43,  51  ;  suggested  as  a 
proper  person  to  be  made  Commissary,  45  ;  referred 
to,  46;  letter  of,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Soc, 
47-50;  undermined  by  Rev.  Mr.  Ross,  58;  signs 
address  of  clergy,  63  ;  removes  differences  in  church 
at  Burlington,  N.  J.,  65;  letter  of,  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Ven.  Soc,  66,  67;  services  of,  in  Welsh,  72; 
memorial  of,  73,  74;  referred  to,  90,  93,  103;  signs 
testimonial  in  favor  of  Rev.  Andrew  Sandell,  114; 
referred  to,  115,  117;  certificate  in  behalf  of,  120. 

Evans,  Mr.  Nathan,  benefactor  to  church  at  Caernarvon, 
348,  369.  370. 

Evans,  Rev.  Nathaniel,  413,  443. 

Evesham,  in  West  Jersey.     Services  at,  33. 

Exeter,  Bishop  of.  Letter  to,  from  Gov.  Thomas,  re- 
specting the  Palatines  in   Pennsylvania,  256,  257. 

Ever,  John,  88. 

Fanaticism.     Progress  of,  448,  449. 

Farmar,  Richard,  227. 

Fast  day  at  breaking  out  of  the  war   for   Independence, 

470.471,477,480. 
Fayerweather,  Rev.  Samuel,  of  Massachusetts,  437. 
Feversham.     Ship  of  war,  65. 
Fiess,  Peter,  398. 


593 


Finney,  Captain,  takes  depositions  in  the  controversy  be- 
tween Edward  Eaton  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rudman,  27. 

Finsher,  Joshua.     Referred  to,  21. 

Fisher,  George,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church  in 
Philadelphia,  7. 

Fitzgerald,  Rowland,  Warden  of  St.  James's  Church, 
White  Clay  Creek,  112. 

Fodel,  George,  398. 

Forbes,  Brigadier-General.  Letter  to,  from  Rev.  Mr. 
Barton,  283,  2S4;  reply  of,  284. 

Forbes,  Rev.  Mr.,  supplying  at  Oxford.  Vide  Oxford 
Church . 

Forbes,  Mary,  88. 

Fortesque,  Mr.  Charles,  schoolmaster  at  Chester,  216, 
217,  218,  219-221,  232. 

Francis,  Tench,  227. 

Frankford.     Referred  to,  49  ;  school  at,  164. 

Franklin  Benjamin,  LL.D.,  413,  421. 

Frazer,  Rev.  William,  signs  letter  of  Pennsylvania 
clergy  to  Bishop  of  London,  481. 

French,  Thomas,  135. 

Frick,  John,  398. 

Frioth,  Abraham,  398. 

Froude,  Dr.,  198. 

Gage,  Gen.  Thomas.  Letter  from,  to  Rev.  Mr.  Barton, 
401,  402. 

Galtiy,  Oliver,  88. 

Gaol  of  Philadelphia  County.  Rev.  Mr.  Smith's  letter 
from  the,  262,  263. 

Garard,  Robert,  88. 

Garden,  Rev.  Alexander,  of  South  Carolina,  203. 

Garrison,  Mr.,  378. 

Gatchel,  Sarah,  89. 

Gaudouet,  Dr.  Francis,  signs  testimonial  in  favor  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Philips,  88,  98. 

Gaul,  John,  398. 

Geneva,  411. 

Georgia  Hospital  (Whitefield's).  Turned  into  a  Col- 
lege, 381. 

Germans  in  Pennsylvania.  Letter  from  Gov.  Thomas 
respecting,  256,  257  ;  Society  in  London  for  the 
erection  of  schools  among,  referred  to,  262,  265, 
267,  271.      Vide  Smith,  William,  D.D. 

German  Town,  239,  258,  286,  287  ;  Sunday  evening 
lecture  at,  314;  Services  at,  327;  mob  marching 
to,  360,  361. 

Ghiselin,  Caesar,  88. 

Gibbs,  John,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church  in 
Philadelphia,  7. 

75 


Gibbs,  Rev.  William,  of  Bristol,  R.  I.  Letter  from,  to 
Mr.  H.  Newman,  195. 

Gibson  (Bishop),  on  the  Sacraments,  438. 

Gibson  (Bishop),  Family  Prayer,  438. 

Giles,  Rev.  Samuel,  shipwrecked,  416. 

Gilham,  Robert,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church 
in  Philadelphia,  7. 

Glasgow.     Synod  of,  116. 

Glasgow.     University  at,  9. 

Glentworth,  Thomas.  Letter  from,  to  Mr.  Cummings, 
139  ;  referred  to,  227. 

Gloucester.     Bishop  of,  212. 

Gloucester.  Mission  referred  to,  437,  442,  443  ;  desert- 
ed, 451,  452. 

Glover,  Edward,  88. 

Godfrey,  John.     Vestryman  at  Molatton,  389. 

Gooding,  Isaac.     Warden,  62. 

Gooding,  John,  154. 

Gooking,  Col.  Charles,  Governor  of  Pennsylvania. 
Referred  to,  47,  48 ;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary, 
50,  52;  signs  letter  respecting  Rev.  Mr.  Hender- 
son, 64;  signs  testimonial  in  favor  of  Rev.  Francis 
Philips,  88,  89,  91;  referred  to,  95,  99,  100;  letter 
to,  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Yen.  Soc,  104 ;  letter 
of,  to  the  same,  108;  ditto,  108,  109;  referred  to, 
112. 

Gordon,  Major  Patrick,  Governor  of  Pennsylvania. 
Letter  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  149,  150;  referred 
to,  151,  157,  175. 

Gordon,  Rev.  Mr.,  missionary  at  Marlboro'.  "  Behaved 
ill,"  449. 

Grafton,  Richard.     Letter  of,  to  Mr.  Dyer,  105,  106. 

Grandin,  Mr.,  379. 

Grant,  William,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church 
in  Philadelphia,  6. 

Graves,  Thomas.     Referred  to,  47,  48. 

Greene,  Darby,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church  in 
Philadelphia,  6. 

Green,  Gyles,  88. 

Greenway,  Robert,  227. 

Greome,  Thomas,  227. 

Griffith,  Rev.  Mr.,  deserted  Gloucester  mission,  451, 
452. 

Hacket,  Rev  Walter.  Letter  from,  to  the  Secretary, 
166;    signs   representation  of   Pennsylvania  clergy, 

174- 
Haglegaus,  Sigmund,  398. 
Halifax,  Lord,  390. 
Hall,  Secretary,  94. 


594 


Hall,  Mr.  William,  practitioner  of  physic  in  Philadel- 
phia.    Referred  to,  48. 

Hall,  Samuel,  227. 

Hall,  Mr.  William.  Printer  to  the  Assembly,  265,  267, 
271. 

Halliday,  Rev.  Thomas.  Letter  from,  to  the  Ven.  Soc, 
121,  122;  death  of,  referred  to,  124. 

Hamet,  Capt.,  293.      Vide  Hammit,  Capt. 

Hamilton,  Andrew.     Speaker  of  Assembly,  176. 

Hamilton,  Governor  James,  of  Pennsylvania,  262,  263  ; 
address  of  Pennsylvania  clergy  to,  296-298;  res- 
ponse to  the  same,  298;  referred  to,  326;  applies 
for  membership  of  the  S.  P.  G.,  324;  referred  to,  33 1. 

Hammitt,  Captain,  293,  331,  334. 

Hang,  John,  398. 

Harding,  Father,  462. 

Harmman,  Mr.     A  benefactor  of  St.  Paul's,  Chester,  79. 

Harper,  John.     Churchwarden  at  Oxford,  46. 

Harris,  Isaac,  108. 

Harris,    Rev.    Mr.     Intruded  upon  mission  at  Lewes, 

3".  3'2- 

Harris,  Thomas,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church 
in  Philadelphia,  6. 

Harrison,  John,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church  in 
Philadelphia,  7  ;  referred  to,  89;  signs  a  defense  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Philips,  98. 

Harrison,  Rev.  William,  missionary  at  Hopewell,  signs 
address  of  clergy,  125;  letter  from,  to  the  Secre- 
tary, 127,  128;  Governor  Keith's  commendation  of, 
130  ;  charge  against,  preferred  by  the  clergy,  132. 

Hartley,  Anthony,  89. 

Harwood,  Susanna.     Daughter  of,  referred  to,  21. 

Hassell,  Samuel,  224. 

Heathcote,  Col.  Caleb,  Referred  to,  11 ;  letter  of,  to 
the  Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Soc,  44,  45. 

Hellier,  William,  227. 

Henderson,  Rev.  Jacob.  Treatment  of,  at  Dover  Hun- 
dred, 64,  66;  referred  to,  70;  signs  address  of 
clergy,  73;  referred  to,  157  ;  letter  from  Rev.  Mr. 
Machonchie  and,  to  Rev.  Mr.  Campbell,  158-160. 

Hereford,  Bishop  of,  466. 

Herris,  John,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  Church  in 
Philadelphia,  6. 

Hesselius,  Gustavus,  227. 

Hesselius,  Rev.  Andreas,  Swedish  minister,  services  of, 
123,  124;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Ven. 
Soc.  128,  129,  referred  to,  132,  153. 

Hesselius,  Rev.  Samuel,  Swedish  minister,  signs  letter 
of  Pennsylvania  clergy  to  the  Ven.  Soc.  155. 

Hill,  Richard,  108. 


Hill,  William,  89. 

Milliard    Philip,  88. 

Hind,  Dr.,  475. 

Hobart,  Robert,  88. 

Hodges,  Mr.  John.     Referred  to,  47,  68. 

Holbrooke,    Rev.   John,   signs   letter   of    Pennsylvania 

clergy  to  the  Ven.  Soc,  155. 
Holt,  Samuel,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church  in 

Philadelphia,  7. 
Hope,  John,  88. 

Hopewell  Church,  in  West  Jersey.     Service  at,  50  ;  sup- 
plied, 65;  referred  to,  66,  125,  127,  130,  132,  193. 
Hopkinson,  Thomas,  227. 
Hopkinson,  Rev.  Thomas.     Not  desired  at  Oxford,  453; 

wanted  at  Bucks  Co.,  461,  467. 
Horsham.     Lay  service  at,  130. 
Houston,    Mr.   James.     Schoolmaster  at  Chester,   2i6» 

218,  219. 
Howard,  Thomas,  227. 
Howe,  Lord,  496. 
Howe,  Sir  William,  489,  494. 
Howie,  Rev.  Alexander.     Arrived,  177;  letter  from,  to 

the  Secretary,  178,  179;  ditto,  189,  190;  ditto,  200; 

ditto,  207,  208;  ditto,  221-223. 
Hoy,  John,  227. 
Hubord,  Enoch,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church 

in  Philadelphia,  7. 
Hubard,  Hannah,  89. 

Huggins,  Mr.  John.     Bequest  of,  to  church  in  Hunting- 
ton, 255. 
Huggins,  Thomas,  89. 

Hughes,  Evan.     Warden  at  St.  David's,  Radnor,  1 20. 
Hughes,  Rev.  John,  missionary  at  Radnor.    Letter  from, 

to  the  Secretary,  188,  189;  ditto,  191,  1 92;  referred 

to,  192;   letter  from,  to  the   Secretary,   372-375; 

referred  to,  376. 
Hughes,  Rev.  Mr.     Lost  at  the  mouth  of  the  Delaware, 

December,  1731,  181. 
Hulbeart,  Philip,  227. 
Humphreys,   Rev.  David,  D.D.,  Secretary  of  the  S.  P. 

G.     Letter  to,  from  Mr.  Rowland  Jones,  168-172; 

referred  to,  1 95  ;  historical  account  of  the  missions 

of  the  S.  P.  G.  by,  referred  to,  290. 
Humphreys,  James,  Secretary  of  the  Convention  of  the 

Pennsylvania  clergy,  signs  proceedings,  305. 
Humphreys,  Rev.  John,  signs   address   of  Clergy,  73; 

letter  of,  to  the   Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Soc,  76-78; 

letter  from  Rev.  George  Ross  and,  to  the  Ven.  Soc. 

respecting  Rev.  Francis  Philips,  83 ;  signs  affidavit 

respecting  said  Philips,  83,  86. 


595 


Humphreys,  Rev.  John,  101,  102;  letter  of,  to  the 
Secretary,  103 ;  signs  testimonial  in  favor  of 
Rev.  Andrew  Sandell,  1 14  ;  letter  of,  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Ven.  Soc,  117  ;  ditto,  1 19;  referred  to, 
120;  signs  address  of  clergy,  124,  1 25  ;  referred  to, 
127  ;  signs  answer  to  queries  of  Bishop  of  London, 
137;  referred  to,  145  ;  complaints  against,  152,  153  ; 
referred  to,  1 72  ;  removal  of,  to  Maryland,  217. 

Hunt,  Jeremiah,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church 
in  Philadelphia,  7. 

Hunt,  John,  tutor  in  the  college  of  Philadelphia,  391. 

Hunter,  Alexander,  warden  at  Chester,  172,  221. 

Hunter,  Col.,  9. 

Hunter,  Fort,  400 ,  Rev.  John  Stuart,  usefully  employed 

at,  454- 
Huntington.     Petition  of  inhabitants  of,  to  the  S.  P.  G., 

254,  255  ;  services  of  Rev.  Mr.  Barton  at,  275,  276, 

278;  state  of  missions  at,  316;  lottery  for  finishing 

church  at,  376. 
Husbandman's  Manual,  438,  448. 

Illcore,  Charles.     Vestryman  at  Chester,  221. 

Illing,  Rev.  Fraugott  Fred.     "  A  worthy  man,"  461. 

Illinois,  the,  440. 

Impost,  laid  upon  wine  and  beer  for  the  proprietary's 
use,  2. 

Indian  hostilities,  348,  349,  351,  352,  353,  359. 

Indian  river,  188  ;  sacrament  administered  at,  431. 

Indian  school  at  Hanover,  400,  401. 

Indian  treaty  at  Fort  Augusta,  440. 

Indians.  Willing  to  be  instructed,  276  ;  ravages  of,  vide 
Barton,  Rev.  Thomas,  letter  of,  to  the  Ven.  Soc. 

Induction.     Not  requisite  in  Pennsylvania,  143. 

Infant  Baptism.     Indifference  about,  68.     Vide  Baptism. 

Inglis,  John,  227. 

Inglis,  Rev.  Charles,  D.D.,  first  Bishop  of  Nova  Scotia, 
signs  letter  of  Pennsylvania  clergy,  48  ;  present  at 
a  convention  of  Pennsylvania  clergy,  295,  296,  299, 
301,  302,  303;  report  of  mission  of,  312,  313;  signs 
address  to  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  319;  ap- 
proved of  by  Mr.  Whitefield,  305  ;   referred  to,  386. 

Israel,  Sweet  Singer  of.     Referred  to,  2,  4. 

Jacobites.     People  in  Pennsylvania  all,  10. 

Jamaica,  Long  Island.     Care  of  the  church  at,  70,  71. 

James,  King,  the  II.  Affords  protection  to  Pennsylva- 
nia. 10. 

Jeffreys,  Sir  Jeffrey.  Chalice  given  to  church  at  Ches- 
ter from  the  bounty  of,  23,  80. 

Jeffereys,  Lord  Chancellor,  52. 


Jenkins,  Rev.  Thomas.  Appointed  missionary  at  Appo- 
quinimy,  33,  36;  Letter  of  Col.  Heathcote  concern- 
ing, 44,  45 ;  death  of,  49,  50,  51  ;  character  of,  55  ; 
referred  to,  56,  57,  59,  61. 

Jenkins,  John,  88. 

Jenney,  Rev.  Robert,  LL.D.  Letter  from,  to  the  Society, 
81  ;  signs  letter  to  Bishop  of  London  respecting  Rev. 
Francis  Philips,  remark  of,  93 ;  letter  from  to  the 
Secretary,  235,236;  ditto,  236,  237;  controversy 
with  Rev.  JE.  Ross,  240—242;  communications  from, 
to  the  vestry,  246-250 ;  letter  to,  from  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  S.  P.  G.,  250,  251  ;  letter  from,  to  the 
Secretary,  253,  254;  ditto,  260;  letter  from,  to  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  273,  274 ;  referred  to, 
279  ;  present  at  convention  of  Pennsylvania  clergy, 
295  ;  declines  to  preside,  296  ;  referred  to  301-311  ; 
signs  address  to  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  319  ; 
referred  to,  341,  355. 

Jersey  man-of-war  referred  to,  20,  21. 

Jesuit  Seminary,  313. 

Jesuitism.     Country  overrun  with,  253. 

Jewell,  Robert,  227. 

Jews  in  Lancaster,  315. 

Job,  Joseph,  398. 

Joden,  Mr.,  68. 

Johnson,  John,  227. 

Johnson,  Sir  William.  Rev.  Mr.  Barton's  visit  to,  400, 
401;  referred  to,  403,  404-415;  referred  to  439; 
extract  from  a  letter  of,  454. 

Johnston,  Samuel,  Esq.  Letter  from,  to  the  Secretary, 
487,  489. 

Jones,  Edward,  227. 

Jones,  Francis,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church  in 
Philadelphia,  6. 

Jones,  Griffith,  attorney-at-law.     Taken  into  custody,  10. 

Jones,  Katharine,  88. 

Jones,  Mary,  89. 

Jones,  Mr  Edward.     Referred  to,  48. 

Jones,  Mr.  Rowland.  Schoolmaster,  1 29  ;  letter  from, 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Soc,  168-172. 

Jones,  Mr.  Walter.     Schoolmaster  at  Philadelphia,  134. 

Jones,  Mounce.     Vestryman  at  Molatton,  389. 

Jones,  Peter.     Vestryman  at  Molatton,  389. 

Jones,  Samuel,  88. 

Jones,  William.  Affidavit  of,  respecting  Rev.  Mr. 
Philips,  87. 

Kalleren,  Mary.     Deposition  of,  428. 
Kanady,  Robert,  89. 
Keap,  John,  88. 


596 


Kearsley,  Dr.,  John,  224,  228,  229. 

Keeble,  Mr.     Referred  to,  55. 

Keene,  Rev.  Samuel,  D.D.,  of  Maryland.  Recommend- 
ed for  Orders,  323  ;  referred  to,  325. 

Kees,  Richard,  88. 

Keith,  Rev.  George.  Letter  from,  to  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don, 17  ;  reference  to,  19;  letter  of,  referred  to,  26, 
27 ;  allusion  to,  78  (by  mistake  of  copyist  written 
"Heith"  ). 

Keith,  Sir  William,  Bart.,  Governor  of  Pennsylvania. 
Referred  to,  109,  no  127  ;  letter  from,  to  the  Ven. 
Soc,  130;  ditto  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  137,  138; 
referred  to,  139,  140,  141,  142,  143  ;  letter  from,  to 
the  Secretary,  143,  144;  letter  from,  to  Bishop  of 
London;   146-148;   referred  to,  151. 

Keith's  *'  Presbyterian  and  Independent  Churches 
brought  to  the  Test,"  402. 

Kennersley,  Ebenezer.  A  Baptist  minister  "inclined" 
for  Orders,  231. 

Kent  county.  Missionaries  sent  to,  25  ;  Referred  to,  132  ; 
Member  of  Church  of  England  in,  to  the  Bishop 
of  London,  134,  135;  referred  to,  136,  145,  146-157, 
187,  188,  312  ;  churches  at,  supplied,  409  ;  vacancy 
at,  416,  417. 

Kent,  Jasper,  89. 

Kennebec  mission,  320,  321. 

Kennct,  White,  1 ).!).,   Bishop  of  Peterborough,  143. 

Kern,  Valentine,  398. 

Kesselius,  Gustavus,  89.      Vide  Hesselius  Gustavus. 

King,  Thomas,  88. 

Kinlin,  John.     Warden  at  Molatton,  389. 

Kiesly,  Jacob,  298. 

Knowles,  John,  227. 

Knowles,  John,  junior,  227. 

Knowles,  John,  minor,  227. 

Kuhn,  Dr.  Offers  contribution  toward  the  purchase  of 
an  organ,  294. 

Kuhn,  Mr.     Recommended  for  Orders,  450,  451. 

Kuhn,  Professor.    College  of  Philadelphia,  451. 

Lancaster.  Church  at,  to  be  enlarged,  282,  283 ;  referred 
to,  294,  301  ;  state  of  mission  in,  315,  316;  church 
at,  328,  329;  referred  to,  358,  364;  town  of,  369; 
state  of  church  at,  347,  348 ;  Indian  hostilities  at, 
348,  349  ;  massacre  of  Indians  at,  360  ;  state  of 
mission  at,  no  reproach  to  the  missionary,  406,  407  ; 
referred  to,  426,  428,  449,  450. 

Lane,  Elnathan,  88. 

Langhorne,  Mr.  Jeremiah.  Letter  from,  to  the  Bishop 
of  London,  198,  199. 


Lassell,  Mary,  89. 

Lasinby,  Mr.     Books  given  by,  75,  76. 

Law,  Mr.,  360. 

Lawrence,  Thomas,  224,  227. 

Lay  Reading,  106,  115,  130. 

Layloff  (ship),  44. 

Leech,  John,  89. 

Leech,  Thomas,  224. 

Lewes,  John,  88. 

Lewes,  Delaware.  Address  of  the  inhabitants  of,  116; 
Rev.  Mr.  Becket  sent  to,  124,  125,  126;  Rev.  Mr. 
Harrison  set  on  shore  at,  127;  state  of  church  at, 
132.;  referred  to,  145,  146,  150;  services  at,  188; 
referred  to,  301  ;  account  of  mission  at,  311,  312  ; 
clergyman  designated  for,  413 ;  mission  at,  vacant, 
406;  services  at,  431;  good  account  of,  443.  Vide 
below. 

Lewis  (Lewes)  Town.  Address  of  inhabitants  of,  to  the 
Bishop  of  London,  116. 

Lewis's  Catechism,  376,  438. 

Library,  Parish,  for  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,  6. 

Lidenius,  Rev.  Abraham,  Swedish  minister.  Services  of, 
123,  124;  letter  from,  to  the  Ven.  Soc,  128,  129; 
signs  letter  of  Pennsylvania  clergy,  133. 

Lidman,  Rev.  Jonas,  Swedish  minister,  signs  letter  of 
Pennsylvania  clergy,  133. 

Lindsay,  Rev.  William.  Recommended  for  Orders,  191  ; 
letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  193,  194;  ditto  to 
Bishop  of  London,  197. 

Ling,  Philip,  89.     (Possibly  Philip  Sing.) 

Lisbon,  67. 

Lloyd,  David,  clerk  and  Attorney-General.  Degraded 
for  maladministration,  I  ;  Church  land  sold  to,  23; 
counsel  to  Edward  Eaton,  27  ;  character  of,  52. 

Lobert,  Dr.  Charles,  signs  testimonial  in  favor  of  Rev. 
Francis  Philips,  88,  98. 

Lock,  Andrew,  88. 

Locke,  Rev.  Richard.  Referred  to,  187;  appointed 
successor  to  Rev.  Mr.  Lindsay,  250,  251  ;  returns 
to  England,  253 ;  referred  to,  255,  258. 

Loftus,  Leison,  88. 

Logan,  James,  108. 

London,  Bishop  of.  Empowered  to  send  "preacher  or 
preachers "  to  Pennsylvania,  on  the  request  of 
twenty  of  the  inhabitants,  5 ;  letter  from  Rev. 
George  Keith  to,  17;  letter  from  the  Lord  Corn- 
bury  to,  17,  18;  letter  from  minister  and  vestry  of 
church  at  Philadelphia,  to,  18,  19;  letter  from  Rev. 
Evan  Evans  to,  20;  reference  to,  21;  referred 
to,  22,  27;  letter  of,  to   Secretary  of  S.  P.  G.,  30; 


597 


referred  to,  33,  40,  55,  59,  64,  73, 83  ;  letter  of,  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Soc.,  58;  satisfied  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Ross's  innocence,  60;  letter  of  clergy  to,  con- 
cerning Rev.  Francis  Philips,  84,  85  ;  testimonial  in 
favor  of  said  Philips  addressed  to,  87-89  ;  letter  to, 
from  Rev.  Mr.  Talbot,  93,  94  ;  referred  to,  109,  113; 
address  of  inhabitants  of  Lewes  to,  116;  address  to, 
from  people  of  Kent  county,  134,  135  ;  queries  sent 
to  Pennsylvania  clergy,  136,  1 37  ;  letter  to,  from  Sir 
William  Keith,  137,  138;  memorial  of  Peter  Evans 
to,  respecting  Dr.  Welton,  139-142;  letter  from 
Rev.  Mr.  Stubbs  respecting  the  same,  142,  143  ;  let- 
ter to,  from  Sir  Wm.  Keith,  146-148  ;  ditto,  from 
Rev.  Mr.  Cummings,  148,  149 ;  ditto  from  Gov- 
ernor Philip  Gordon,  149,  150,  ditto  from  Rev.  Mr. 
Becket,  150-152;  referred  to,  157;  pastoral  letters 
of,  177  ;  referred  to,  181,  191 ;  letter  to,  from  Rev. 
Mr.  Lindsay,  197  ;  letter  to,  from  Mr.  Langhorne, 
187,  199;  ditto  from  Rev.  Mr.  Cummins,  200;  re- 
ferred to,  211  ;  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,  to,  223, 
224;  church- wardens,  etc.,  to,  225-227  ;  Rev.  Mr. 
Peters  to,  228,  229  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Jenney  to,  234,  235  ; 
referred  to,  246,  249  ;  Rev.  Wm.  Smith's  memorial 
to,  262,  263  ;  referred  to,  296 ;  address  of  Pennsyl- 
vania clergy  to,  299-301  ;  referred  to,  302,  304, 
309,  310;  letter  from,  respecting  Rev.  Wm.  Mac- 
clenachan,  referred  to,  322  ;  referred  to,  336,  367  ; 
petition  to  Archbishops  and,  from  St.  George's 
Gennan  church,  Philadelphia,  396-398  ;  letter  to, 
from  Dr.  Smith,  411-413;  ditto,  413-415;  imposed 
upon,  416;  referred  to,  417,  420;  letter  to,  from 
Rev.  Mr.  Peters,  432,  433  ;  letter  from,  to  St.  Paul's, 
Philadelphia,  referred  to,  437,  438 ;  letter  to,  from 
Rev.  Mr.  Peters,  443-445  ;  referred  to,  451,  453, 
461  ;  letter  to,  from  the  clergy,  470-472  ;  referred 
to,  476,  477,  478, 479  ;  letter  from  the  Pennsylvania 
clergy  to,  480,  48 1. 

London  Grove,  194. 

Long  Island,  170,  171. 

Lottery  applied  for,  for  building  and  repairing  churches, 
374  ;  profits  of,  388. 

Lovegrove,  John,  88. 

Lutheran  church  at  German  Town,  239,  287. 

Lutherans  in  America.  Plans  for  union  with  the 
church,  268,  269,  367,  411,  412. 

Lyon,  Rev.  John,  442,  443. 

Macclenachan,  Rev.  William.     Present  at  a  Convention 
of  Pennsylvania   clergy,  295,  296,  299,  301,  302; 
declined  to   sign   address   to  the    Governor,  298 ; 
76 


refused   permission   to    continue  in  Convention  as 

assistant  minister  at  Christ  Church,  302  ;  leaves  the 

Convention,  303  ;  address  of  eighteen  Presbyterian 

ministers  in  favor  of,  and  action  thereon,  305-311  ; 

referred  to,  319,  341,  355,  393,  413  ;  letter  from  Dr. 

Smith  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  concerning, 

320-323  ;  referred  to,  325,  327,  332. 
Machonchie,    Rev.    William.     Letter    from    Rev.    Mr. 

Henderson,  and  to  Rev.  Mr.  Campbell,  158-160. 
Magaw,  Rev.  Samuel,  D.D.,  412,  413,  456,  475;  signs 

letter  of  Pennsylvania  clergy,  481. 
Maidenhead,   New  Jersey.     Baptisms  at,   33 ;  referred 

to,  130. 
Mallows,  Mrs.  Sarah.     Gift  of,  to  church  at  Oxford,  129 ; 

legacy  of,  to  the  same,  144,  164. 
Marcus  Hook.    Services  at,   77;  referred  to,  117,  145, 

150,  161,  181,  182,  186;  church  at,  served  by  Rev. 

Mr.  Unander,  324 ;  vide  Chichester. 
Markham,  Madam.     Haughty  humors  of,  referred  to,  15. 
Markham,    William,  Lieutenant-Governor.     Degraded 

for  maladministration,  I ;  letter   to,  from  Governor 

John  Danforth  of  Massachusetts,  8,  9  ;  referred  to, 

10,  11. 
Marks,  Joseph,  227. 
Marlborough.     Congregation  at,  99 ;  church  at,  served 

by  Rev.  Mr.  Unander,  324 ;  sermon  at,  449. 
Marriage   laws   of  Pennsylvania   complained   of,    167; 

representation  of  missionaries  respecting,  173,  174. 
Marsh  Creek,  275. 

Marshall,  John,  Warden  of  St.  Martin's,  Chichester,  324. 
Martin,  Charles,  89. 

Martin,  Governor,  of  North  Carolina,  462,  463. 
Martin,   Thomas.     Letter  from,  to  Rev.   Mr.   Clayton, 

12,  13- 
Martin,  William,  signs  address  to  the  Ven.  Soc.  in  behalf 

of  church  in  Chester,  24. 
Maryland.     Letter  to    the   clergy   of,   from    Rev.    Mr. 

Clayton,  13,  14;  state  of  Church  in,  121. 
Mason,  John,  89. 

Mass  House  building  at  Lancaster,  232. 
Master  of  Arts,  Degree  of,  given  to  an  ignorant  dissenter, 

39°- 
Mather,  John,  warden  at  Chester,  172. 
Mather,  Rev.  Joseph,  recommended  for  Orders,  289. 
Matthews,  Hugh,  156. 
Maus,  Samuel,  398. 
Mayhew,  Rev.  Jonathan,  D.D.,  independent  minister  of 

Boston,  390. 
May,   Rev.    Mr.,   supplies  church  at  Hopewell,  N.  J., 

65,  66. 


598 


McKean,  Rev.  Robert,  of  New  Jersey.  Letter  from,  to 
Dr.  Bearcroft,  270-273  ;  attends  Convention  of 
Pennsylvania  clergy,  295,  296,  299,  301,  302,  303, 
304 ;  signs  address  of  the  clergy  to  the  Secretary, 
380;  referred  to,  381,  410. 

Medston,  Arthur,  father  of  Mrs.  Crawford,  64. 

Megee,  George,  227. 

Mengaboyd,  James,  227. 

Mennonists,  256,  315,  329,  337. 

Merioneth.     Welch  at  Radnor  and,  35. 

Methodism.     Stand  made  against,  in  New  York,  236. 

Methodist  preachers.  Every  effort  made  to  fill  the 
churches  of  Philadelphia  and  New  York  with,  365, 
366. 

Michael,  Mr.,  referred  to,  46. 

Missionaries  in  Pennsylvania.  Case  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal,  491-493. 

Mohawk  country.     Appointments  of  missionaries  to,  450. 

Mohawk  Indians,  400,  401 ;  ministrations  to,  454. 

Molatton.  People  of,  desirous  for  a  missionary,  289  ; 
state  of  mission  at,  345,  346,  357  ;  congregation  at, 
diminishing,  383;  petition  from  vestry  of,  388,  389. 

Monada  township,  Lancaster  county,  233. 

Monmouth  county,  in  New  Jersey,  180. 

Montgomery,  Rev.  John,  recommended  for  Orders,  425  ; 
settled  in  Maryland,  456;  referred  to,  461. 

Montgomery.     Welch  services  at,  33,  35. 

Montreal.     Garrison  at,  401,  402. 

Moore,  Dr.,  68. 

Moore,  John,  collector  of  Philadelphia,  husband  of  the 
following,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  church  in 
Philadelphia,  7  ;  referred  to,  87,90,  91,  92,  142. 

Moore,  Mrs.  Mary,  slandered  by  Rev.  Francis  Philips, 
84,  86,  90. 

Moore,  Mr.     Extract  of  a  letter  from,  8. 

Moore,  Mr.  Robert,  merchant  of  Philadelphia,  261. 

Moore,  Mr.  William.  Proceeding  of  Assembly  in  the 
case  of,  264-266;  referred  to,  270,  271. 

Moore,  Rev.  Thoroughgood,  of  New  Jersey.  Referred 
to,  31  ;    letter  respecting,  from  Col.  Quarry,  40. 

Moravians  in  Philadelphia,  235  ;  stand  made  against  in 
New  York,  236  ;  services  of,  at  Marcus  Hook,  25  ; 
country  overrun  with,  253 ;  referred  to,  256,  337. 

Morgan,  Evan,  227. 

Morgan,  Benjamin,  224,  226. 

Morgan,  Dr.,  293. 

Morgan,  Thomas.     Bequest  of,  387. 

Morgan,  James,  warden  at  Oxford,  115. 

Morris,  Anthony,  Chief  Justice.  Degraded  for  malad- 
ministration, 1. 


Morton,  Rev.  Andrew,  of  New  Jersey.  Plan  adopted 
by,  for  securing  the  contributions  of  the  people,  291  ; 
referred  to,  316;  letter  of  Dr.  Smith  and  others 
respecting,  378-380;  referred  to,  381. 

Mount  Johnson,  403. 

Muhlenberg,  Rev.  Dr.,  Lutheran  minister,  411. 

Mullan,  Thomas,  227. 

Mullard,  Richard,  88. 

Mullard,  Robert,  88. 

Munday,  Henry,  88-98. 

Murdock,  William,  227. 

Murray,  Mr.  Legacy  of,  to  Oxford  Church.  Vide  Ox- 
ford Church. 

Murray,  Rev.  Alexander.  Letter  from,  to  the  Secretary, 
344-346;  ditto,  383,  384;  ditto,  438-441  ;  ditto, 
458,459;  referred  to,  475;  signs  letter  of  Penn- 
sylvania clergy,  481. 

Negroes  inclined  to  be  religious,  236,  237. 

Negro  school  in  Pennsylvania.  Whitefield's  proposed, 
213. 

Negro  slaves.  No  care  for,  instruction  of,  165  ;  efforts 
for  the  baptism  of,  184,  196. 

Neil,  Rev.  Hugh.  Missionary  journey  of,  187;  letter 
from,  to  the  Secretary,  286-288  ;  present  at  conven- 
tion of  Pennsylvania  clergy,  296,  299,  301,302,  303  ; 
mission  of,  flourishing,  314;  signs  address  to  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  319;  letter  from  to  the  Sec- 
retary, 326,  327;  ditto,  333;  ditto,  336,  337;  ditto, 
338,  339 ;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  346,  347  ; 
ditto,  354,  355  ;  ditto,  360,  361  ;  ditto,  363-366 ; 
ditto,  382  ;  referred  to,  386,  389,  390 ;  letter  from 
to  the  Secretary,  399 ;  ditto,  404,  405  ;  removal  of, 
to  Maryland,  406,  413  ;  letter  from  to  the  Secretary, 
417-420;  referred  to,  421 ;  lottery  in  the  time  of, 
447  ;  referred  to,  452. 

Neville,  Mr.,  180,  181. 

Newark,  New  Jersey,  428. 

Newbury,  John.  Letter  from,  in  defence  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Philips,  94-97. 

Newcastle,  Delaware.  Rev.  George  Ross  sent  as  mis- 
sionary to,  25;  referred  to,  35;  church  at,  36; 
removal  of  missionary  to,  44 ;  Rev.  George  Ross 
leaves,  49  ;  referred  to,  53,  54,  56,  57,  58,  59,  62,  63, 
66,  80,  82,  94,  108,  in,  112,  118;  state  of  church 
at,  131  ;  referred  to,  138,  145,  150;  meeting  of 
Pennsylvania  clergy  at,  155,  158,  159;  referred  to, 
202,  301,  312,  313;  church  at,  thin  of  people,  314  ; 
referred  to,  407,  468. 

Newell,  Matthew,  89. 


599 


New  Jersey  College,  426,  428. 

New  Lights.     Country  overrun  with,  253. 

New  London,  Pa.  Church  at,  served  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Unander,  324 ;  church  at,  referred  to,  370,  37 1 ,  400, 
407,  408. 

Newman,  Mr.  H.  Letter  to,  from  Rev.  Mr.  Gibbs,  of 
Rhode  Island,  195. 

Newtown  in  Bucks  county.  Referred  to,  169;  church 
building  at,  407  ;  referred  to,  408. 

New  York.  Letter  to  clergy  of  the  province  of,  re- 
ferred to,  69. 

Nichols,  Rev.  Dr.,  263,  324. 

Nichols,  Rev.  Henry.  Referred  to,  20;  letter  from,  to 
the  Ven.  Soc,  22-24;  address  from  parishioners  of, 
to  the  Ven.  Soc,  28-30;  extract  from  a  letter  of,  to 
the  Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Soc,  30,  31  ;  arrival  of, 
referred  to,  33  ;  referred  to,  36 ;  removal  of,  to 
Maryland,  49,  51;  charges  against,  53,  54;  letter 
from  the  Bishop  of  London  with  reference  to,  58 ; 
referred  to,  80. 

Nicholson,  Gov.  Francis.  Letter  to,  in  behalf  of  Christ 
Church,  Philadelphia,  5-7  ;  letter  to,  from  I.  Arrow- 
smith,  7  ;  letter  of,  respecting  Nonconformist  minis- 
ters, 8;  letter  from  Mr.  Suder  to,  9-12;  letter  from 
Rev.  Mr.  Clayton  to,  14,  15;  address  in  favor  of, 
29,  30 ;  defence  of,  40 ;  reference  to,  32,  59 ;  a 
benefactor  of  St.  Paul's,  Chester,  79,  80. 

Nixon,  Richard,  227. 

Non-Jurors.     Referred  to,  136,  138,  139-142,  143. 

Norbury,    Rev.    Mr.      Swedish    minister    in    London, 

"3- 

Northampton,  county  of.     State  of  the  Church  at,  316. 
North  Carolina.      Need  of  missionaries  in,  407,  408, 

433.  434- 
Nova  Scotia.     Missionary  for,  wanted,  411. 

Oakley,  Thomas,  89. 

Oaths  of  Allegiance.     Referred  to,  112. 

Odell,  Rev.  Jonathan,  of  New  Jersey.     Signs  letter  to 

Bishop  of  London,  481. 
Ohio  River,  276. 
Okill,  George,  227. 

Old,  John.     Vestryman  at  Molatton,  389. 
"Old  South"  meeting-house  in  Boston.     Use  of  granted 

to  church-people,  9. 
Orphan  House,  Whitefield's.      Turned  into  a  College, 

205,  213. 
Orton,  John,  88. 
Ottey,  Philip,  153. 
Owens,  Owen,  211,  212. 


Oxford,  England,  257. 

Oxford,  Trinity  Church  in.  Condition  of,  36 ;  address 
of,  to  the  Ven.  Soc,  42,  43  ;  letter  of  minister  and 
vestry  respecting  the  affairs  of,  45-47 ;  Rev.  Mr. 
Clubb  continues  at,  49,  50,  51;  church  at,  77; 
churchwardens,  etc,  of,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Ven. 
Soc,  100,  IOI  ;  ditto,  107;  referred  to,  III  ;  ditto, 
114,  115,  117,  120;  (Oxon.),  129;  state  of  church 
at,  131 ;  referred  to,  138,  177,  179,  180;  congre- 
gation increasing,  189;  referred  to,  222,  223,  238, 
239,  240 ;  removal  of  Rev.  JE.  Ross  to,  258,  259 ; 
congregation  at,  growing,  286,  287,  301  ;  account  of 
the  mission  at,  314;  lottery  for  enlargement  of  the 
church  at,  333 ;  one  hundred  and  fifty  members  of 
the  church  at,  337,  354 ;  congregation  more  steady, 
363,  399  ;  people  not  inclined  to  hear  Mr.  Sturgeon, 
415;  referred  to,  425  ;  a  lottery  the  bane  of,  447; 
Dr.  Smith's  services  at,  452,  453  ;  application  of 
congregation  at,  for  a  minister,  456,  457. 

Oxon.      Vide  Oxford,  129,  150,  162,  163,  164,  165. 

Page,  Rev.  Mr.     Charges  against,  461,  462;    to  be  an 

itinerant,  466,  467. 
Palatines  in  Pennsylvania.      Vide  Germans  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. 
Panton,   Rev.   George.      Signs   letter   of   Pennsylvania 

clergy  to  Bishop  of  London,  481. 
Pappegaya   Armgardt.      Land  given  by,  to  church  at 

Chester,  23. 
Parham,  Thomas,  88. 
Parker,  Ingate,  99. 
Parquiomen,  50,  132,  136,  145,  146,  150.      Vide  Perkio- 

men, 
Paschal],  William,  224,  227. 
Paston,  Captain,  65,  66. 
Patton,  John.     Vestryman  at  Reading,  386. 
Pawlett,  William,  89. 
Pearson,  James,  227. 
Pearson,  Mr.,  331. 
Peirce,  Henry.     A  benefactor  of  St.  Paul's,  Chester,  79; 

Warden  of  St.  John's,  Concord,  324.      Vide  Pierce, 

Henry. 
Penn,  Hon.  Thomas  and  Richard,  Proprietaries.     Ad 

dress  to,  ordered  to  be  prepared,  302 ;  the  address, 

303.  3°4- 
Penn,  Hon.  Thomas,  183,  263,  274,  324,  326,  333,  334, 

335- 

Penn,  Richard,  Esq.     Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  472, 

474.  477- 
Pennsylvania.     True  account  of  the  country  of,  9-12. 


6oo 


Penn,  William.  A  brief  narrative  of  the  proceedings 
of,  1-4 ;  extract  from  the  grant  of  Pennsylvania  to, 
5;  referred  to,  11,23,51,52,95,  108,  109,  151,163, 

174- 

Pequea.  Address  of  St.  John's  parish  in,  to  the  Society, 
182,  183;  referred  to,  202,  216,  232,  243;  gift  to 
church  at,  244 ;  vacant,  258 ;  served  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Backhouse,  259 ;  new  church  at,  282 ;  referred  to, 
294;  mission  at,  315,  316;  congregations  much 
larger,  329;  account  of  church  at,  370;  referred  to, 
449  ;  congregation  at,  much  increased,  467. 

Peres,  Samuel.  Signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church  in 
Philadelphia,  6. 

Perkiomen  or  Perquiomen.  Services  at,  50,  177;  con- 
gregation at,  increasing,  178;  referred  to,  179,  352, 

377- 

Perth  Amboy,  New  Jersey,  378,  381  ;  convention  of 
New  Jersey  clergy  at,  364 ;  meeting  of  charitable 
corporation  at,  457. 

Pert,  Thomas,  88,  98. 

Peterborough.     Bishop  of,  257. 

Peterson,  Andrew,  154. 

Peters,  Hugh.     Reference  to,  15. 

Peterson,  Andrew.     Death  of,  215. 

Peters,  Ralph.     Father  of  Rev.  Richard  Peters,  198. 

Peters,  Rev.  Richard.  Case  of,  198,  199  ;  signs  memo- 
rial to  the  Bishop  of  London,  224 ;  application  in 
behalf  of,  225-227;  letter  to  the  Bishop  of  London, 
228,  229  ;  offers  land  for  church,  254  ;  referred  to, 
279,  302 ;  contribution  of,  for  church  in  Philadel- 
phia, 333,  334;  chosen  rector  of  Christ  Church, 
349 ;  referred  to,  390 ;  letter  from,  to  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  391-395,  409,  410 ;  referred 
to,  415,  418,  419;  letter  from,  and  others,  to  the 
Bishop  of  London,  425,  426;  ditto,  432,433;  ditto 
443  ;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  460,  461  ;  ditto, 
to  Bishop  of  London,  462,  463  ;  signs  letter  of 
Pennsylvania,  clergy,  472. 

Philips,  Rev.  Francis.  Bad  character  of,  81,  83;  let- 
ter of  clergy  respecting,  84,  85, 86,  87  ;  testimonial 
in  favor  of,  87-89  ;  letter  of,  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Ven.  Soc,  90-93  ;  referred  to,  94  ;  a  defence  of, 
94-98;  referred  to,  99,  133. 

Philips,  Sir  J.,  142. 

Pickett,  William,  signs  address  to  the  Ven.  Soc,  in  be- 
half of  church  in  Chester,  24. 
Pierce,  Henry,  signs  address  to  the  Ven.  Soc,  in  behalf 

of  church  in  Chester,  24  ;  referred  to,  171. 
Piers,  Mrs.    Referred  to,  21. 
Piewell,  William.     Churchwarden  at  Philadelphia,  226. 


Pile,  Ralph.      A  benefactor  of  St.  Paul's,  Chester,  79, 

'53- 

Pitt,  Fort,  352,  440. 

Piscataqua,  in  New  England,  62. 

Piscataway,  New  Jersey.  Little  progress  in  church  at, 
65. 

Plate,  Communion,  for  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,  6. 

Poplar,  Ship  of  war,  99. 

Portlock,  Rev.  Edward.  Letter  of,  to  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  16. 

Post,  Christian  Frederick.  Letter  from,  to  the  Secretary, 
424. 

Postlethwaite,  John,  227. 

Powell,  Thomas,  signs  address  to  the  Ven.  Soc,  in  be- 
half of  church  in  Chester,  24  ;  a  benefactor  of  St. 
Paul's,  Chester,  79. 

Poyer,  Rev.  Thomas,  of  Long  Island.  Case  of,  referred 
to,  70,  71. 

Pratt,  Hannah,  89. 

Pratt,  Henry,  227. 

Pratt,  Mr.  Writing-Master  in  the  College  of  Philadel- 
phia, 391. 

Presbyterian  Minister  at  Philadelphia  (1698).  Referred 
to,  15. 

Presbyterian  Synod.  Action  of  members  of,  respecting 
Rev.    Mr.    Macclennachan,    305-308 ;  referred  to, 

322»  327- 
Preston,  William,  89. 
Price,  F.     Vestryman  at  Reading,  386. 
Price,  Jeremiah,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  Church  in 

Philadelphia,  7. 
Prices  in  Pennsylvania,  137. 
Prigg,  Mary,  89. 

Printz,  Governor.    Referred  to,  23. 
Proctor,  Peter,  88. 
Puts,  Nicholas,  88. 
Pugh,  Rev.  John.   Arrival  of,  at  Philadelphia,  193  ;  letter 

from,  to  the  Secretary,  195,  196  ;  ditto,  202. 

Quakers.  Family  of,  to  be  baptized,  50  ;  desire  of,  that 
Mr.  Penn  should  resign  the  Government,  51. 

Quakers,  Foxian,  2  ;  tests  prescribed  for,  3  ;  divisions 
among,  6, 

Quakers,  Hoytian,  12,  13  ;  Keithian,  14. 

Quaker  School  at  Philadelphia,  endowed,  7  ;  reference 
to,  11,  12. 

Quarry,  Col.  Robert.  Letter  from,  and  others,  to  Gov. 
Nicholson,  5-7.  Letter  of,  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Ven.  Soc,  40-42  ;  conduct  of,  in  the  difficulty  at 
Appoquiminy,    44;    signs    letter    respecting    Rev. 


6oi 


Mr.  Henderson,  64 ;  removes  unhappy  differences 
in  church   at    Burlington,  N.  J.,  65  ;    referred  to, 
66. 
Quarry,  Mrs.  Sarah,  90,  99. 

Radnor.  Services  at,  33  ;  petition  of  Welch  at,  for  a 
minister,  35 ;  Welch  at,  72 ;  church  at,  75 ;  refer- 
red to,  III,  117,  119;  services  at,  120  ;  referred 
to,  129;  state  of  church  at,  131  ;  referred  to,  144, 
145,  146,  150,163,  164,  168,169,  I77>179!  people 
at,  careless  and  lukewarm,  28 1  ;  referred  to,  301, 
account  of  mission  at,  315;  congregation  daily  in- 
creasing at,  352  ;   referred  to,  377. 

Randolph,  Edmund.    Referred  to,  7,  II. 

Ratloff,  Sarah,  88. 

Reading,  Berks  Co.  Petition  to  the  S.  P.  G.  from,  316, 
326  ;  application  for  a  missionary  at,  288,  289  ; 
state  of  the  church  at,  344,  345,  356;  congregation 
at,  increasing,  383;  petition  from  vestry  of  church 
at,  384-3S6;  referred  to,  388  ;  parishioners  at,  quiet 
and  orderly,  458. 

Reading,  Rev.  Philip.  Letter  from,  to  the  Secretary, 
187,  188;  referred  to,  237;  letter  from,  to  the 
Secretary,  244,  245  ;  ditto,  261  ;  present  at  a  con- 
vention of  the  Pennsylvania  clergy,  295,  296,  299, 
301,  302,  303;  account  of  mission  of,  313,  314; 
signs  address  to  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  319; 
letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  341,  342;  ditto,  362, 
363;  ditto,  382,  383;  ditto,  386,  387;  ditto,  416, 
417;  ditto,  441;  ditto,  457,  458;  ditto,  459,  460; 
ditto,  463-465 ;  ditto,  468,  469  ;  signs  letter  of 
Pennsylvania  clergy,  48 1. 

Reed,  John,  98. 

Reynolds,  Rev.  Mr.     Missionary  at  Rye,  50. 

Rhode  Island.  Reception  of  Massachusetts  ministers 
in,  8. 

Richards,  Edward.     Vestryman  at  Chester,  221. 

Richards,  Joseph.     Vestryman  at  Chester,  221. 

Ridge,  Daniel,  88. 

Riselly,  Margaret,  89. 

Roberdes,  John,  227. 

Robinson,  Edward,  88. 

Robinson,  Mr.  James.  Benefactor  of  St.  James's  Church, 
White  Clay  Creek,  III,  112. 

Robinson,  William,  88,  98. 

Rodney,  Captain.     Dead,  64. 

Romaine,  Rev.  William,  438. 

Rootle,  Mr.,  of  Inner  Temple,  London,  198. 

Roth,  Christian,  398. 

Roth,  Jacob,  398. 

77 


Rothenbuhler,  Rev.  Frederick.  German  minister  in 
Philadelphia,  recommended  to  the  Archbishop  and 
Bishop  of  London,  397. 

Rowan  county,  North  Carolina.  Petition  from  inhabi- 
tants of,  407,  408,  433,  434. 

Rowland,  Rev.  John  Hamilton,  466. 

Rowland,  Rev.  Mr.     Presbyterian,  218,  219. 

Ross,  Mr.  John.  Quarrels  with  Dr.  Jenney,  242;  a  fol- 
lower of  Mr.  Macclennachan,  325 ;  referred  to,  334; 
letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  349,  350;  referred  to, 
355,  360;  causes  dismission  of  Rev.  Mr.  Sturgeon, 
356  ;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  456,  457. 

Ross,  Rev.  .'Eneas.  Referred  to,  204 ;  letter  from,  to 
the  Secretary,  230;  ditto,  231;  ditto,  237,  238; 
ditto,  238-240 ;  ditto,  240-242 ;  referred  to,  250 ; 
letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  258,  259. 

Ross,  Rev.  George,  missionary  at  New  Castle.  Re- 
ferred to,  25;  services  of,  35,  36;  proceeding  of, 
44,  45  ;  referred  to,  51;  appointed  lecturer  at  Phil- 
adelphia, and  schoolmaster,  51  ;  referred  to,  53, 
58,  59  ;  Bishop  of  London  satisfied  with,  60 ;  let- 
ter of,  to  Mr.  Chamberlayne,  67,  68;  ditto,  69,  70; 
case  of,  represented  by  the  clergy,  7 1 ;  signs  address 
of  clergy  to  the  Society,  73 ;  referred  to,  77,  78, 
80;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  82;  ditto,  83; 
signs  letter  to  Bishop  of  London  respecting  Rev. 
Francis  Philips,  85,  86  ;  referred  to,  99  ;  letter  from, 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Soc,  101-103. 

Ross,  Rev.  George.  Gov.  Keith's  attestation  to,  no; 
reference  to  labors  of,  III;  account  of  building  of 
St.  James's  Church,  at  White  Clay  Creek,  signed 
by,  III,  112;  signs  testimonial  in  favor  of  Rev. 
Andrew  Sandell,  114;  goes  to  Maryland,  117; 
letter  of,  to  vestry  of  Philadelphia,  118;  signs  ad- 
dress to  Pennsylvania  clergy,  124,  125  ;  referred  to, 
127;  signs  letter  of  Pennsylvania  clergy,  133;  re- 
ferred to,  136;  signs  answer  to  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don's queries,  137;  referred  to,  150 ;  letter  to, 
from  members  of  Apoquiniminck  Church,  153,  154; 
signs  letter  of  Pennsylvania  clergy,  155  ;  signs  rep- 
resentation of  Pennsylvania  clergy,  174;  referred 
to,  179,  180;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  204, 
205 ;  ditto,  205,  206 ;  referred  to,  228,  229 ;  letter 
from,  to  the  Secretary,  230,  231  ;  referred  to,  234, 
2S°»  2S7>  copies  of  Bishop  of  London's  sermons 
sent  to,  301  ;  account  of  the  mission  of,  314. 

Rudman,  Rev.  Andrew.  Referred  to,  21 ;  controversy 
with  Edward  Eaton,  26-28;  referred  to,  43,  45,  46, 
47,  48. 

Sabbatarians  in  abundance,  60;  referred  to,  72,  256. 


602 


Salem,  New  Jersey.     Beginnings  of  church  at,  65,  66. 
Sandell,  Rev.  Andrew.     Swedish  minister  at  Wicaco; 

signs    address   of    clergy   in    Pennsylvania   to   the 

Ven.  Soc,  63  ;  petition  of,  to  the  Ven.  Soc,  113, 

114. 
Sanderlandes,  James.     Signs  address  to  the  Ven.  Soc, 

in    behalf  of  church   in  Chester,  24 ;  referred   to, 

79- 

Sanderlandes,  James  (son  of  the  above).  Gave  land  to 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Chester,  79. 

Sanderson,  Dr.,  486. 

Sankey,  Rev.  Mr.     A  Presbyterian  minister,  233. 

Saunders,  William,  226. 

Sayre,  Rev.  John.     Comments  on,  416. 

Savannah.     Whitefield's  congregation  at,  213. 

Schenectady,  403,  404. 

Schnerder,  Conrad,  398. 

Schreyer,  Frederick,  398. 

Scots  covenanters.  Petition  of,  addressed  to  the  Dutch 
Kirk,  403,  404. 

Schleydore,  H.,  227. 

School  (Parish),  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia.  Grant  for 
the  support  of  a,  6  ;  letter  from  the  master  of,  7 ; 
diligence  of  Rev.  John  Thomas  in  attending  the,  17  ; 
success  at,  18;  Rev.  John  Clubb  resigns  the  master- 
ship of,  49;  Rev.  George  Ross  appointed  to,  51, 
54,  58;  Rev.  John  Humphreys  master  of,  77,  78; 
allowance  for,  requested,  142. 

Schuylkill  River.    Referred  to,  50,  239,  285. 

Scull,  Edward,  88. 

Seeker,  Archbishop,  469. 

Sectaries  in  Lancaster  county,  36. 

Serenius,  Rev.  Mr.     Swedish  Pastor  in  London,  181. 

Seward,  William,  a  friend  of  Whitefield's.  Referred 
to,  203. 

Sewell,  Rev.  Richard  (of  Maryland).     Reference  to,  7. 

Sewell,  Richard,  224,  227. 

Seymour,  Col.      Referred  to,  49. 

Sharman's  Valley,  275. 

Sharp,  Archbishop,  486. 

Sharpe,  Governor  of  Maryland,  417,  420. 

Shewbart,  John,  227. 

Shippen,  Edward,  Chief  Justice  of  Pennsylvania.  Refer- 
red to,  4,  10  ;  grant  of  land  for  use  of  the  church, 
407. 

Shippen,  One,  "  gone  home  for  the  gown,"  416. 

Shippensburg.     Town  of,  275,  407,  408. 

Shirley,  Gov.,  of  Massachusetts,  320. 

Shrewsbury,  New  Jersey.     Church  at,  65,409. 

Shutz,  Attwood,  227. 


Sibley,  John,  signs  address   in   behalf  of  the  church  in 
Philadelphia,  7. 

Sinclare,  Rev.  Mr.     Ill  state  of  the  health  of,  62  ;  refer- 
red to,  66. 

Singleton,  Captain,  of  Newark,  New  Jersey,  428. 

Singleton,  Mr.     Teacher  at  Chester,  251. 

Sinnamenson,  Gloucester  county,  New  Jersey,  238. 

Skippen,  Joseph,  227. 

Smith,   John,   signs   testimonial   in    favor  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Philips,  88. 

Smith,  John,  Gentleman.     Affidavit  of,   respecting  Rev. 
Francis  Philips,  86,  87  ;  referred  to,  90. 

Smith,  Joseph,  88. 

Smith,  Rev.  William,  D.D.  Provost  of  the  College  and 
Academy  of  Philadelphia ;  letter  from,  to  the  Bishop 
of  London,  262,  263  ;  narrative  of  the  case  of,  264- 
268 ;  Rev.  Mr.  Sturgeon's,  letter  respecting,  269  ; 
letter  of  Dr.  Jenney  to  the  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury, respecting,  273,  274;  extract  from  a  letter  of, 
276  ;  referred  to,  279,  288,  289  ;  present  and  pre- 
siding at  a  Convention  of  the  Pennsylvania  clergy, 
295-311  ;  signs  address  to  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, 319  ;  letter  from,  to  the  Archbishop,  319-324  ; 
letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  325,  326;  referred  to, 
327  ;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  331,  332  ;  ditto, 
333.  334;  ditto,  335,  336  ;  referred  to,  355,  364  ; 
letter  from,  and  others,  to  the  Secretary,  378-380  ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Smith  to  the  Secretary,  381  ;  referred  to, 
386,  391,  392  ;  letter  from,  to  the  Archbishop,  398, 
letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  403  ;  ditto,  to  the  Bishop 
of  London,  41 1-413;  ditto,  413-415  ;  ditto,  to  the 
Secretary,  415,  416  ;  referred  to,  418,419;  letter 
from,  to  the  Secretary,  421, 422  ;  ditto,  to  the  Bishop 
of  London,  425-427 ;  ditto,  427  ;  ditto,  427-429  ; 
ditto,  431  ;  referred  to,  433  ;  letter  from,  to  the 
Secretary,  434-436  ;  ditto,  437,  438  ;  ditto,  442, 
443  ;  referred  to,  444  ;  letter  from,  to  the  Secre- 
tary, 446,  447  ;  ditto,  447,  448;  ditto,  451,  452; 
ditto,  452,  453;  ditto,  455,  456;  ditto,  460,461  ; 
ditto,  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  461,  462  ;  ditto, 
462,  463  ;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  466  ;  re- 
ferred to,  47 1,  472  ;  letter  from,  to  the  Bishop  of 
London,  473-475  ;  ditto,  to  the  Secretary,  475-478  ; 
ditto,  479. 

Smith,  William,  227. 

Smith's  preservative  against  Quakerism,  206. 

Smead,  Robert,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church  in 
Philadelphia,  7. 

Smout,    Edward,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church 
in  Philadelphia,  7  ;  referred  to,  88. 


r~ 


603 


Sober,  Charles,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church  in 
Philadelphia,  7. 

Sober,  John,  227. 

Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign 
Parts.  Referred  to,  21 ;  letter  from  the  Minister  and 
Vestry  of  Chester  to,  22-24  >  referred  to,  26  ;  ad- 
dress to  the  president  and  members  of,  from  St. 
Paul's,  Chester,  28-30 ;  letter  from  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don to  the  Secretary  of,  31  ;  letter  from  Rev.  Henry 
Nichols  to  the  Secretary  of,  31,  32  ;  representation 
of  the  state  of  the  Church  in  Pennsylvania  offered 
to,  32-39  ;  letter  from  Col.  Quarry  to  the  Secretary 
of,  40-42  ;  Trinity  Church,  Oxford,  to,  42,43  ;  Col. 
Heathcote  to  the  Secretary  of,  44,  45.  Mr.  Clubb 
and  Vestry  of  Oxford  to  the  Secretary  of,  45- 
47;  Rev.  Evan  Evans  to  the  same,  47-50;  Col. 
Gookin  to  the  same,  50-52  ;  Vestry  of  Chester 
to,  53,  54  ;  Vestry  of  Chester  to  the,  53,  54  ; 
Vestry  of  Appoquiminink  to  the  Secretary  of,  55, 
56  ;  Col.  Evans  to  the  same,  56,  57  ;  Bishop  of 
London  to  the  same,  58  ;  Gentlemen  of  Chester 
to,  58,  59  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Clubb  to  the  Secretary  of, 
59,  60  ;  Bishop  of  London  to  the  same,  60;  Vestry 
of  Appoquiminick  to  the  Secretary,  61,  62  ;  Ad- 
dress of  clergy  in  Pennsylvania  to,  62,  63  ;  Gover- 
nor of  Pennsylvania  and  others  to  64  ;  Mr.  Jere- 
miah Bass  to  the  Secretary,  65,  66 ;  Rev.  Mr. 
Evans  to  the  same,  66,  67  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Ross  to  the 
same,  67,  68,  69,  70  ;  Clergy  of  Pennsylvania  to, 
70—73  ;  memorial  of  Rev.  Evan  Evans  to,  73,  74 ; 
Rev.  John  Clubb  to  the  Secretary,  74-76  ;  Rev. 
John  Humphrey  to  the  same,  76-78  ;  Rev.  Mr. 
Jenney  to,  8 1  ;  Rev.  George  Ross  to  the  Secretary, 
82 ;  Rev.  Messrs.  Ross  and  Humphreys  to  the 
same,  83  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Philips  to  the  same,  90-93  ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Humphreys  to  the  same,  98-100  ;  Vestry 
of  Oxford  to  the  same,  100,  101 ;  Rev.  Mr.  Ross 
to  the  same,  101-103  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Humphreys  to  the 
same,  103,  104  ;  letter  to  Col.  Gookin  from  the  Sec- 
retary, 104;  the  same  to  the  clergy,  104,  105  ;  Church- 
wardens, etc.,  of  Oxford  to,  107  ;  Col.  Gookin  to 
the  Secretary,  108  ;  ditto,  108,  109  ;  Gov.  Keith 
to,  109,  no  ;  the  Secretary  of,  to  Rev.  John  Tal- 
bot, 112;  petition  of  Rev.  Andrew  Sandell  to,  113, 
114  ;  wardens,  etc.,  of  Oxford  to,  114,  115  ;  Rev. 
Mr.  Humphreys  to  the  Secretary,  117  ;  wardens  at 
Radnor  to,  1 21  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Halliday  to,  121,  122  ; 
Pennsylvania  clergy  to,  122-124;  ditto,  124,  125  ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Becket  to  the  Secretary,  125, 126;  Swedish 
minister  to,   128,  129;    Rev.    Robert   Weyman   to 


the  Secretary,  129,  130;  Sir  Wm.  Keith  to,  130; 
Clergy  of  Pennsylvania  to  the  Secretary,  131— 133  ; 
Rev.  John  Talbot  to  the  same,  133,  134;  members 
of  Church  of  England  in  Kent  County  to,  134,  135  ; 
Sir  Wm.  Keith  to  the  Secretary,  143, 144  ;  Rev.  Mr. 
Weyman  to  the  same,  144, 145  ;  inhabitants  of  Con- 
cord, etc.,  to,  152,  153;  Pennsylvania  clergy  to,  155  ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Campbell  to  the  Secretary,  156-158  ;  Rev. 
Richard  Backhouse  to  the  same,  161,  162  ;  memo- 
rial of  Rev.  Robert  Weyman  to,  162-165  '<  Mr. 
Rowland  Jones  to  the  Secretary,  168-172  ;  Rev. 
Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  same,  172,  173  ;  missionaries 
in  Pennsylvania  to,  173-174  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Cummings 
to  the  Secretary,  177  ;  Rev.  Alexander  Howie  to 
the  same,  178,  179  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the 
same,  179,  180;  Rev.  Mr.  Cummins  to  the  same, 
180,  181 ;  Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  same,  181, 
182  ;  address  of  inhabitants  of  Pequea  to,  182,  183; 
Rev.  Dr.  Jenney  to  the  Secretary,  183,  184  ;  Rev. 
Philip  Reading  to  the  same,  184  ;  Rev.  Thomas 
Thompson  to  the  same,  185,  186  ;  Rev.  George 
Craig  to  the  same,  187  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Reading  to  the 
same,  187,  188  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Hughes  to  the  same,  188, 
189  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Howie  to  the  same,  189,  190;  Rev. 
Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  same,  190  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Cum- 
mins to  the  same,  191  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Hughes  to  the 
same,  191,192;  inhabitants  of  Can estogoe  (Lancas- 
ter) to,  192 ;  Rev.  Mr.  Howie  to  the  Secretary, 
200,  201  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Pugh  to  the  same,  201 ;  ditto, 
202;  Rev.  Mr.  Cummings,  ditto,  203  ;  Rev.  G. 
Ross,  ditto,  204,  205  ;  ditto,  205,  206  ;  Rev.  Mr. 
Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  206  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Howie, 
ditto,  207,  208  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Currie,  ditto,  208,  209  ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Cummings,  ditto,  210 ;  ditto,  210,  211  ; 
Rev.  George  Whitefield  to  the  Secretary,  212  ;  ditto, 
213,  214  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Pugh  to  the  Secretary,  214, 
215  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse,  ditto,  216,  217  ;  ditto, 
218,  219  ;  St.  Paul's,  Chester,  to,  219-221  ;  Rev. 
Mr.  Howie  to  the  Secretary,  221-223  5  Rev.  -<E- 
Ross  to  the  Secretary,  230 ;  Rev.  George  Ross, 
ditto,  230,  231  ;  Rev.  JE.  Ross,  ditto,  231  ;  Rev. 
Mr.  Backhouse,  ditto,  232,  233  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Lind- 
say, ditto,  233,  234  ;  Dr.  Jenney,  ditto,  235,  236  ; 
ditto,  236,  237  ;  Rev.  M.  Ross  to  the  Secretary, 
237,  238  ;  ditto,  238-240  ;  ditto,  240-242  ;  Rev. 
Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  242,  243  ;  ditto, 
243,  244  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Reading  to  the  Secretary,  244, 
245  ;  the  Secretary  of,  to  Dr.  Jenney,  250,  251  ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the  Secretary,  251,  252  ; 
Rev.  Richard  Locke  to,  252,   253  ;   Dr.  Jenney  to 


604 


the  Secretary,  253,  254  ;  people  of  Huntington  and 
Tyrone  to,  254,  255  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Backhouse  to  the 
Secretary,  257,  258  ;  Bangor  Church,  ditto,  258  ; 
Rev.  AL.  Ross,  ditto,  258,  259  ;  Mrs.  Backhouse, 
ditto,  259  ;  Dr.  Jenney,  ditto,  260 ;  Rev.  Mr.  Usher, 
ditto,  260  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Reading,  ditto,  261  ;  Rev. 
Thomas  Barton,  ditto,  275-281  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Currie, 
ditto,  281,  282  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Barton,  ditto,  282,  283; 
people  of  York  and  Cumberland  to,  285,286  ;  Rev. 
Mr.  Neill  to  the  Secretary,  286-288  ;  people  of 
Berks  County  to,  288-289  ;  Rev.  George  Craig  to 
the  Secretary,  290-293  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Barton,  ditto, 
293-295  ;  referred  to,  304 ;  account  of  the  missions 
of,  in  Pennsylvania,  311-316  ;  Address  of  the  mis- 
sionaries of,  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  317— 
319  ;  referred  to,  321  ;  Rev.  Wm.  Smith  to  the 
Secretary,  325,  326  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Neill,  ditto,  326, 
327  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Barton,  ditto,  328,  329  ;  Rev.  Mr. 
Craig,  ditto,  330  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Smith,  ditto,  331,  332  ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Sturgeon,  ditto,  332;  Rev.  Mr.  Neill, 
ditto,  333  ;  Dr.  Smith  and  others,  ditto,  333,  334  ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Thompson,  ditto,  335 ;  Dr.  Smith,  ditto, 
335,  336  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Neill,  ditto,  336,  337 ;  ditto, 
338,  339  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  339 ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Craig,  ditto,  340 ;  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson, 
ditto,  340,  341  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Sturgeon,  ditto,  341  ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Reading,  ditto,  341,  342;  Rev.  Mr.  Bar- 
ton, ditto,  343 ;  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson,  ditto,  344  ; 
Rev.  Alexander  Murray,  ditto,  344-346 ;  Rev.  Mr. 
Neill,  ditto,  346,  347  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Barton,  ditto,  347- 
349;  Mr.  John  Ross,  ditto,  349,  350;  Rev.  Mr. 
Craig,  ditto,  350,  351  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson,  ditto, 
351,  352;  Rev.  Mr.  Currie,  ditto,  352  ;  Rev.  Mr. 
Thompson,  ditto,  353  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Neill,  ditto,  354, 
355;  Rev.  Mr.  Sturgeon,  ditto,  355,  356;  Rev. 
Mr.  Murray,  ditto,  356-359  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson, 
ditto,  359  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Neill,  ditto,  360,  361  ;  Rev. 
Mr.  Craig,  ditto,  361  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson,  ditto, 
362  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Reading,  ditto,  362,  363  ;  Rev.  Mr. 
Neill,  ditto,  363-366 ;  Rev.  Mr.  Barton,  ditto,  366- 
372  ;  Rev.  Messrs.  Sturgeon  and  Hughes,  ditto, 
372-375 ;  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson,  ditto,  376 ;  Rev. 
Mr.  Sturgeon,  ditto,  376,  377  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Currie, 
ditto,  377  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Smith  and  others,  ditto,  378- 
380;  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  ditto,  381;  Rev.  Mr.  Neill, 
ditto,  382 ;  Rev.  Mr.  Reading,  ditto,  382,  383 ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Murray,  ditto,  383,  384;  wardens  and 
vestry  of  Reading,  to,  384-386;  Rev.  Mr.  Reading 
to  the  Secretary,  386,  387  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Barton,  ditto, 
387,  388;  wardens   and  vestry  of  Molatton,  Berks 


County,  to,  388,  389  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Neill  to  the  Secre- 
tary, 399;  Rev.  Mr.  Barton,  ditto,  400-402  ;  Rev. 
Dr.  Smith,  ditto,  403,  404;  Rev.  Mr.  Neill,  ditto, 
404,  405  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Craig,  ditto,  405,  406  ;  Rev. 
Mr.  Barton,  ditto,  406-409;  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  ditto, 
415,  416;  Rev.  Mr.  Reading,  ditto,  416,  417; 
Rev.  Mr.  Neill,  ditto,  417-420;  Rev.  Dr.  Smith, 
ditto,  421,  422  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson,  ditto,  422  ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Craig,  ditto,  422-424  ;  Christian  Frederick 
Post,  ditto,  424  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  ditto,  427  ;  Rev. 
Mr.  Thompson,  ditto,  429,  430 ;  Rev.  Mr.  An- 
drews, ditto,  430,  431  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  ditto,  431  ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton,  ditto,  433,  434 ;  Rev.  Dr.  Smith, 
ditto,  434-436  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Barton,  ditto,  436,  437  ; 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  ditto,  437,  438  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Murray, 
ditto,  438-441  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Reading,  ditto,  441  ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Craig,  ditto,  442  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  ditto, 
442,  443  ;  Rev.  John  Andrews,  ditto,  446  ;  Rev. 
Dr.  Smith,  ditto,  446,  447  ;  ditto,  447,  448  ;  Rev. 
Mr.  Barton  to  the  Secretary,  448-45 1  ;  Rev.  Dr. 
Smith,  ditto,  451,  452  ;  ditto,  452,  453  ;  Rev.  Mr. 
Barton  to  the  Secretary,  454  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Andrews, 
ditto,  455  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  ditto,  455,  456  ;  Mr. 
John  Ross,  ditto,  456,  457  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Reading, 
ditto,  457,  458  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Murray,  ditto,  458,  459  ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Reading,  ditto,  459,  460  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Pe- 
ters and  others,  ditto,  460,  461 ;  Rev.  Mr.  Reading, 
ditto,  463-465  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  ditto,  466  ;  Rev. 
Messrs.  Peters,  Smith,  and  Ducb.6,  ditto,  466,  467  ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton,  ditto,  467  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Reading, 
ditto,  468,  469  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Peters,  ditto,  473;  Rev. 
Dr.  Smith,  ditto,  475-478  ;  ditto,  479  ;  Rev.  Mr. 
Reading  to  the  Secretary,  481,482  ;  ditto,  483-487  ; 
Mr.  Samuel  Johnston  to  the  Secretary,  487-489  ; 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton,  ditto,  489-49 1  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Read- 
ing, ditto,  494,  495. 

Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  North  Britain. 
Labors  of,  116. 

Society    of   Jesus.       Members   of    the,    at    Lancaster, 

343- 

Somerset  County,  Virginia,  159. 

South  Sea  Annuities  Stock,  334,  335,  336. 

Spence,  or  Spencer,  one,  416. 

Spencer,  Mr.  Recommended  for  Orders  by  Dr.  Frank- 
lin, 416,  421,  422;  character  of,  423. 

Stanley,  Miss,  199. 

Stanwix,  Fort,  439. 

Stapleford,  Thomas,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  Church 
in  Philadelphia,  7  ;   referred  to,  88. 

St.  Asaph.     Bishop  of,  466. 


605 


St 


St 


State  House,  Philadelphia,  offered  to  Rev.  Mr.  Macclen- 

nachan  by  the  Quakers,  322,  323. 
Staten  Island.     Church  at,  250. 
Stephens,  Henry,  88. 

Steuart,  Charles,  Esq.,  378,  379,  380,  381. 
Stevens,  Anthony,  88. 

Storke,  Henry.     Churchwarden  at  Oxford,  46. 
Story,  Enoch,  88. 
Stout,  Mrs.,  428. 
St.  Paul's  Church,    Philadelphia.        Referred    to,  499 ; 

clergyman  for,  chosen  by  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield,  412, 

413,  414,  417,  418,  419,  420.      Vide  Macclennachan, 

Rev.  William. 
St.  George's  (German)  Church,  Philadelphia.     Petition 

of,  to  the  Archbishops,  and  Bishop  of  London,  396- 

398- 

St.  James's  Church,  White  Clay  Creek,  ill,  112.  Vide 
White  Clay  Creek. 
Paul's  Church,  Queen  Ann's  Co.,  Maryland.  Rev. 
Mr.  Neill  appointed  rector  of,  417;  letter  of  Rev. 
R.  Peters  respecting,  443-445. 
Peter's  Church,  Philadelphia.  To  be  opened,  332; 
endowment  of,  334 ;  united  with  Christ  Church, 
341;  closed  to  Mr.  Whitefield,  363;  lottery  applied 
for  in  behalf  of  Christ  Church  and,  374. 

Stratford,  in  Connecticut,  62. 

Stringer,  Rev.  William.  "Irregularly  ordained,"  437 ; 
"a  peaceable,  good  man,"  438;  letter  from  Rev. 
Mr.  Peters  respecting,  443-445;  signs  address  of 
Pennsylvania  clergy  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  472. 

Stuart,  Rev.  John.  Missionary  to  Indians,  450 ;  usefully 
employed,  454. 

Stubbs,  Rev.  Philip,  secretary  of  the  S.  P.  G.  Letters  to, 
from  Gov.  Evans,  25-28  ;  letter  from,  to  the  Bishop 
of  London,  142,  143. 

Stump,  Frederick,  murderer,  439. 

Sturgeon,  Rev.  William.  Recommended  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Jenney,  248,  249 ;  appointed  catechist  and  assistant 
in  Philadelphia,  250 ;  letter  from,  to  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  268,  269  ;  "  a  very  good  man,"  274  ; 
present  at  a  convention  of  the  Pennsylvania  clergy, 
295,  296,  299,  301,  302 ;  signs  address  to  Archbish 
op  of  Canterbury,  319;  letter  from,  to  the  Secre- 
tary, 332;  ditto,  341;  ditto,  355,  356;  ditto,  372- 
375  ;  ditto,  376,  377  ;  referred  to,  393  ;  Oxford  mis- 
sion not  inclined  to  hear,  415. 

Styles,  Mrs.,  87. 

Suder,  Robert.     Letter  from,  to  the  Governor,  9-12. 

Suffragan  Bishop.      Desire  for  a,   expressed,  34,   137. 
Vide  Bishops  in  America. 
78 


Susquehannah.  Glebe  land  given  on  the  banks  of  the, 
254,  255. 

Sussex,  Delaware,  138,  187,  188,312;  churches  in,  sup- 
plied, 409. 

Swedes'  Church.     Land  at  Chester  given  to,  23. 

Swedish  ministers  in  Pennsylvania,  61,  63. 

Swift,  Samuel.     Conduct  of,  at  Oxford,  447. 

Talbot,  Rev.  John,  of  New  Jersey.  Character  of,  19; 
referred  to,  21  ;  officiates  at  funeral  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Jenkins,  49 ;  signs  address  of  clergy,  63 ;  signs 
letter  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Soc,  64;  com- 
mendation of,  65;  signs  address  of  clergy,  73; 
signs  letter  to  Bishop  of  London,  respecting  Rev. 
Francis  Philips,  85  ;  presides  at  meeting  of  clergy, 
86;  referred  to,  92  ;  letter  of,  to  Bishop  of  London, 
93,  94;  referred  to,  95,  102,  103;  letter  to,  from 
the  Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Soc,  112;  signs  testimo- 
nial in  favor  of  Rev.  Andrew  Sandell,  114;  re- 
ferred to,  115;  signs  letter  of  Pennsylvania  clergy, 
133  ;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Soc, 
133,  134;  assumes  Episcopal  prerogatives,  143  ; 
"  universally  beloved,"  148,  149;  referred  to,  152. 

Talmud  read  and  observed  by  Lancaster  Jews,  315. 

Taylor,  Abram,  228. 

Taylor,  Peter.     Warden  at  Oxford,  115. 

Taylor,  Robert,  227. 

Tennent,  Rev.  Gilbert  (Presbyterian),  209,  217,  243, 
308,  322. 

Thomas,  Gov.  George.  Letter  from,  to  the  Bishop  of 
Exeter,  256,  257. 

Thomas,  Rev.  John.  Recommended  to  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don, 17,  18,  19,  20;  reference  to,  20;  libelled  by 
Edward  Eaton,  27;    services  of,  at   Philadelphia, 

33.  34,  35- 

Thompson,  George,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  Church 
in  Philadelphia,  7. 

Thompson,  Rev.  Thomas.  Letter  from,  to  the  Secretary, 
185,  186;  left  his  mission,  270;  referred  to,  292  ; 
"bad  character  of,"  314;  referred  to,  330. 

Thompson,  Rev.  William.  Produces  letters  of  appoint- 
ment as  missionary  and  takes  a  seat  in  Convention 
of  Pennsylvania  clergy,  302  ;  in  attendance,  303  ; 
state  of  mission  of,  316  ;  letter  from,  to  the  Secre- 
tary, 335  ;  ditto,  340,  341  ;  ditto,  344  ;  ditto,  351, 
352  ;  ditto,  353  ;  driven  from  his  home,  358  ;  let- 
ter from,  to  the  Secretary,  359  ;  ditto,  362  ;  ditto, 
376  ;  ditto,  422  ;  ditto,  429-430  ;  applied  for,  437  ; 
referred  to,  456  ;  signs  letter  of  Pennsylvania  clergy 
to  Bishop  of  London,  481. 


6o6 


Till,  William,  224,  227. 

Tillotson,  Archbishop.  Whitefield's  attack  upon,  204, 
207,  211. 

Tingley,  Rev.  Samuel,  475  ;  signs  letter  of  Pennsylvania 
clergy,  48 1 . 

Townsend,  Lord,  146. 

Trame,  Mr.,  212. 

Tranberg,  Rev.  Peter,  Swedish  minister,  signs  letter  of 
Pennsylvania  clergy  to  the  Ven.  Soc,  155. 

Treadwell,  Rev.  Mr.  Missionary  at  Trenton,  New  Jer- 
sey, 386. 

Tregeny,  Captain.     Death  of,  referred  to,  21. 

Trent,  Mr.  William,  37,  90,  92,  133,  134. 

Trent,  Mrs.  Slandered  by  Rev.  Francis  Philips,  84, 
86,  90. 

Trenton,  New  Jersey,  193  ;  referred  to,  378,  386  ;  mis 
sion  at,  vacant,  406  ;  application  of,  437  ;  refer- 
red to,  456. 

Tresse,  Hugh,  227. 

Trinity  Church,  Oxford.  Referred  to,  18,21-26,27,  114. 
Vide  Oxford. 

Triton,  Man  of  War,  44. 

Tryon,  Governor,  of  North  Carolina,  407. 

Turner,  B.,  227. 

Turner,  William,  vestryman  at  Chester,  221. 

Tuthill,  James,  88. 

Tyrone.  Petition  of  the  inhabitants  of,  to  the  S.  P.  G. , 
254,  255. 

Unander,    Rev.    Erick.      Attestation   in    favor  of,  324, 

325- 

Upland,  alias  Chester.  Referred  to,  19  ;  address  of 
Minister  and  Vestry  of,  22-24.      Vide  Chester. 

Urmston,  Rev.  John,  of  North  Carolina.  Church  in 
Philadelphia  well  rid  of,  133  ;  conduct  at  Philadel- 
phia, 141  ;  extracts  from  a  letter  from,  142,  143. 

Urquhart,  Rev.  Mr.,  dead,  58. 

Usher,  Rev.  Walter.     Letter  from,  to  the  Secretary,  260. 

Vanderspregel,  William,  227. 

Vaughan,  Rev.  Edward,  of  New  Jersey.  Arrival  of,  at 
Boston,  50 ;  signs  address  of  clergy,  63  ;  referred 
to,  65. 

Vesey,  Rev.  William,  of  New  York.  Referred  to,  90, 93 ; 
letter  to,  from  Mr.  Newbury,  94-97. 

Vestry  of  Christ  Church.  Members  of,  offered  a  share 
in  the  government,  2.  Vide  Christ  Church,  Phila- 
delphia. 

Vicary,  Rev.  John,  rector  of  Church  in  Philadelphia. 
Signs  address  of  clergy,  124,  125  ;  sends  temporary 


supply  to   Philadelphia,    127;  deceased,   132;  Sir 

William  Keith's  character  of,  144. 
Vidal,  Stephen,  227. 
Vining,  E.,  Churchwarden,  signs  a  defence  of  Rev.  Mr. 

Philips,  98. 

Wade,  John,  signs  address  to  the  Ven.  Soc,  in  behalf 
of  Church  in  Chester,  24. 

Walker,  Richard,  88. 

Walker,  James,  warden  at  Chester,  221. 

Walker,  John,  vestryman  at  Chester,  221. 

Wall  on  Infant  Baptism,  347. 

Wallace,  one,  a  merchant,  spreads  story  concerning 
clergyman  at  Dover  Hundred,  49. 

Wallis,  Robert,  88. 

Walton,  Mr.  Nathaniel.  Schoolmaster  at  Frankford, 
115,  164. 

Walter,  Thomas,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church 
in  Philadelphia,  7. 

Ward,  Dr.,  of  London,  321. 

Warren,  John,  Warden  at  Molatton,  389. 

Waterford.    Congregation  at,  452. 

Waterford  township,  Gloucester  county,  New  Jersey, 
238. 

Webster,  Samuel,  Vestryman  at  Chester,  227. 

Welch  Books.     Distribution  of,  35. 

Welch  in  Pennsylvania.  Efforts  of  Bishop  of  London 
to  provide  a  missionary  for,  30. 

Welch  Language.     Services  in,  72. 

Welton,  Rev.  Robert,  D.D.  (Nonjuring  Bishop).  Offi- 
ciates at  Philadelphia,  without  bishop's  license,  136  ; 
referred  to,  138  ;  statement  concerning,  139  ;  me- 
morial of  Peter  Evans  respecting,  139-142  ;  extracts 
from  Rev.  Mr.  Urmston's  letter  respecting,  142, 
143  ;  ordered  home,  146 ;  referred  to,  148,  149, 
151,  152. 

Wesleys,  the,  203. 

Wesse,  Hugh,  88. 

West  Chester,  421. 

West  Jersey.  Services  at  Evesham,  in,  t,t>  >  services  at 
Hopewell,  in,  50. 

Westminster  School,  198. 

West  Pennsborough,  275. 

Weyman,  Rev.  Robert,  signs  address  of  clergy,  124, 
125  ;  letter  from,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Ven.  Soc, 
129,  130  ;  referred  to,  13 1  ;  signs  letter  of  Penn- 
sylvania clergy,  133  ;  signs  answer  to  Bishop  of 
London's  Queries,  137  ;  letter  from,  to  the  Secreta- 
ry, 144,  145  ;  referred  to,  146  ;  "a  very  sober  good 
man,"  149  ;  referred  to,  150,  161  ;   Memorial  of,  to 


607 


the  Ven.  Soc,  162-165;  referred  to,  168,  171  ; 
signs  representation  of  Pennsylvania  clergy,  174; 
removes  to  Burlington,  177,  180. 

Wheelock,  Rev.  Ezekiel,  D.D.  Indian  School  of,  400, 
401. 

White  Clay  Creek.  Account  of  the  church  at,  in,  112; 
referred  to,  145,  146,  194  ;  church  at,  370,  371,400, 
407,  408. 

White,  Mr.  John,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church 
in  Philadelphia,  7. 

White,  Rev.  William,  D.D.  First  Bishop  of  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  referred  to,  461  ;  signs  address  of  Pennsyl- 
vania clergy  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  472. 

Whitechapel  (London).     Altar-piece  at,  143. 

Whitefield,  Rev.  George.  Prosecution  of,  in  South 
Carolina,  203  ;  attack  of,  upon  Archbishop  Tillot- 
son,  etc.,  204,  205  ;  in  Chester,  206  ;  violence  of, 
207,  208  ;  accounts  of,  208,  209,  210,  211  ;  letters 
to  the  Secretary,  212-214  >  effects  of  his  railing 
against  the  clergy,  214;  referred  to,  216,  217,  222, 
313  ;  followers  of,  referred  to,  233,  234  ;  schism  in 
the  congregation  of,  235  ;  reference  to  the  "  large 
congregations  "  reported  by,  258  ;  received  with 
open  arms  by  clergy  of  Philadelphia,  354  ;  referred 
to,  355,  360  ;  St.  Paul's  and  the  College,  Phila- 
delphia, open  to,  363;  referred  to,  365,  366;  in 
Philadelphia,  381,  392,  393  ;  selects  clergyman 
for  St.  Paul's,  Philadelphia,  413,  414  ;  referred 
to,  468. 

Whitehead,  James.     Vestryman   at  Reading,  386. 

Whiteland,  169. 

Whitemarsh,  177  ;  vacant,  136  ;  referred  to,  145,  146, 
150,  163  ;  people  at,  careless  livers,  1 78  ;  referred 
to,  179  ;  religion  decays  at,  190  ;  referred  to,  201, 
239,  258  ;  church  people  few  in,  286,  287  ;  attend- 
ants at,  337. 

Whittington,  Rev.  Mr.,  411. 

*■'  Whole  Duty  of  Man."  Copies  of  the,  given  for  dis- 
tribution in  the  Plantations,  75,  76  ;  Whitefield's 
attack  upon  the  author  of,  204,  207,  211. 

Wicaco.     Swedish  congregation  at,  referred  to,  113. 

Wilcocks,  John,  227. 

Wilkinson,  Gabriel,  89,  98. 

Wilkinson,  John,  227. 

"  Williamite,  A."  Rev.  John  Talbot  claims  to  have 
been,  94. 

Williams,  John,  88,  227. 


Williams,  John,  junior,  88. 

Williams,  William.     Warden  at   Appoquiminink,  56. 

William  II.  Address  congratulating,  on  his  deliverance 
from  conspiracies,  10. 

Willing,  Mr.  Charles,  218,  219. 

Willis,  Richard,  88. 

Willson,  John,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church  in 
Philadelphia,  7. 

Wilson,  Mr.,  400. 

Wilson,  Rev.  Mr.     Shipwrecked,  416,417. 

Winchester.     Bishop  of,  198. 

Windrussea,  Rev.  Andrew.  Swedish  minister,  recom- 
mended by  the  Pennsylvania  clergy  for  Appoquimi- 
nink, 155. 

Wine  and  beer.     Impost  laid  upon,  2. 

Wolf,  John,  398. 

Wood,  Joseph.  Warden  of  St.  James's  Church,  White 
Clay  Creek,   112. 

Woodbridge,  Rev.  Benjamin  (Nonconformist).  Sent 
to  Pennsylvania  as  a  missionary. 

Wooddrof,  Alexander,  224. 

Worcester.     Bishop  of,  453. 

Worrell,  James,  135. 

Worrell,  Peter,  88,  98. 

Wragg,  James,  227. 

Wrangle,  Rev.  Mr.  Swedish  minister,  354,  366,  411 ; 
letter  from  Rev.  R.  Peters,  introducing,  432,  433  ; 
congregation  gathered  by,  443. 

Wright,  Edward,  219. 

Yeates,  Jasper,  signs  address  in  behalf  of  the  church  in 
Philadelphia,  6  ;  signs  address  to  Ven.  Soc,  in  be- 
half of  church  in  Chester,  24  ;  signs  address  in  be- 
half of  church  at  Chester,  30,  54  ;  ditto,  in  behalf  of 
Gentlemen  of  Chester,  58,  59 ;  a  main  promoter 
in  founding  St.  Paul's  upon  Delaware,  79. 

Yetton,  Randall,  227. 

York,  Archbishop  of.  Petition  to,  from  German  church 
in  Philadelphia,  396-398. 

York,  275,  278;  petition  of  members  of  Church  of  Eng- 
land, in  the  county  of,  285,  286  ;  appointment  of 
missionary  to,  302  ;  state  of  mission  at,  316  ;  re- 
ferred to,  358  ;  lottery  for  building  church  at,  376  ; 
church  building  at,  430,  455  ;  referred  to,  446. 

York,  Duke  of.     Patents  of,  373,  374,  375. 

Zinzendorf,  Count,  235. 


